Skip to main content
Log in

On the Inverse Problem of Finding Cosmic Strings and Other Topological Defects

  • Published:
Communications in Mathematical Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We consider how microlocal methods developed for tomographic problems can be used to detect singularities of the Lorentzian metric of the Universe using measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation. The physical model we study is mathematically rigorous but highly idealized.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Agol E., Hogan C.J., Plotkin R.M.: Hubble imaging excludes cosmic string lens. Phys. Rev. D 73(8), 087302 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Anderson M.R.: The Mathematical Theory of Cosmic Strings. Series in High Energy Physics, Cosmology and Gravitation. IOP Publishing, Ltd., Bristol (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bobin J., Starck J.-L., Sureau F., Basak S.: Sparse component separation for accurate cosmic microwave background estimation. Astron. Astrophys. 550, A73 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Coulson D., Ferreira P., Graham P., Turok N.: Microwave anisotropies from cosmic defects. Nature 368(6466), 27–31 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cruz M., Turok N., Vielva P., Martinez-Gonzalez E., Hobson M.: A cosmic microwave background feature consistent with a cosmic texture. Science 318(5856), 1612–1614 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Finch, D., Lan, I.-R., Uhlmann, G.: Microlocal analysis of the X-ray transform with sources on a curve. In: Uhlmann, G. (ed.) Inside Out: Inverse Problems and Applications. Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Publication, vol. 47, pp. 193–218. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2003)

  7. Fraisse A.A., Ringeval C., Spergel D.N., Bouchet F.R.: Small-angle CMB temperature anisotropies induced by cosmic strings. Phys. Rev. D 78(4), 043535 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Greenleaf A., Kurylev Y., Lassas M., Uhlmann G.: Invisibility and inverse problems. Bull. Am. Math. Soc. (N.S.) 46(1), 55–97 (2009)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  9. Greenleaf A., Lassas M., Uhlmann G.: On nonuniqueness for Calderón’s inverse problem. Math. Res. Lett. 10(5–6), 685–693 (2003)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. Greenleaf A., Uhlmann G.: Nonlocal inversion formulas for the X-ray transform. Duke Math. J. 58(1), 205–240 (1989)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  11. Greenleaf A., Uhlmann G.: Estimates for singular Radon transforms and pseudodifferential operators with singular symbols. J. Funct. Anal. 89(1), 202–232 (1990)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. Greenleaf A., Uhlmann G.: Composition of some singular Fourier integral operators and estimates for restricted X-ray transforms. II. Duke Math. J. 64(3), 415–444 (1991)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. Guillemin, V.: On some results of Gel’fand in integral geometry. In: Pseudodifferential Operators and Applications (Notre Dame, Ind., 1984), Proceedings of Symposia in Pure Mathematics, vol. 43, pp. 149–155. American Mathematical Society, Providence (1985)

  14. Guillemin V.: Cosmology in (2 +  1)-Dimensions, Cyclic Models, and Deformations of M 2,1, Annals of Mathematics Studies, vol. 121. Princeton University Press, Princeton (1989)

  15. Hammond D.K., Wiaux Y., Vandergheynst P.: Wavelet domain bayesian denoising of string signal in the cosmic microwave background. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 398(3), 1317–1332 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hörmander L.: Fourier integral operators. I. Acta Math. 127(1–2), 79–183 (1971)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  17. Hörmander L.: The Analysis of Linear Partial Differential Operators. IV, Volume 275 of Grundlehren der Mathematischen Wissenschaften. Springer, Berlin (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hörmander L.: The Analysis of Linear Partial Differential Operators. I, Volume 256 of Grundlehren der Mathematischen Wissenschaften. Springer, Berlin (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lang, S.: Real analysis, 2nd edn. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Advanced Book Program, Reading (1983)

  20. LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration. Constraints on cosmic strings from the LIGO-virgo gravitational-wave detectors. Phys. Rev. Lett. 112(13), 131101 (2014)

  21. LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration. Observation of gravitational waves from a binary black hole merger. Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 061102 (2016)

  22. Paternain G.P., Salo M., Uhlmann G.: Tensor tomography: progress and challenges. Chin. Ann. Math. Ser. B 35(3), 399–428 (2014)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  23. Planck Collaboration. Planck 2013 results. XIX. The integrated Sachs–Wolfe effect. Astron. Astrophys. 571, A19 (2014)

  24. Planck Collaboration. Planck 2013 results. XV. CMB power spectra and likelihood. Astron. Astrophys. 571, A15 (2014)

  25. Planck Collaboration. Planck 2013 results. XXIII. Isotropy and statistics of the CMB. Astron. Astrophys. 571, A23 (2014)

  26. Planck Collaboration. Planck 2013 results. XXV. Searches for cosmic strings and other topological defects. Astron. Astrophys. 571, A25 (2014)

  27. Quinto E.T.: Singularities of the X-ray transform and limited data tomography in R 2 and R 3. SIAM J. Math. Anal. 24(5), 1215–1225 (1993)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  28. Sachs R.K., Wolfe A.M.: Perturbations of a cosmological model and angular variations of the microwave background. Astrophys. J. 147, 73 (1967)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Sachs R.K., Wu H.-H.: General Relativity for Mathematicians. Springer, New York (1977)

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  30. Sarangi S., Tye S.-H.: Cosmic string production towards the end of brane inflation. Phys. Lett. B 536(3–4), 185–192 (2002)

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  31. Sazhin M., Longo G., Capaccioli M., Alcala J.M., Silvotti R., Covone G., Khovanskaya O., Pavlov M., Pannella M., Radovich M., Testa V.: CSL-1: chance projection effect or serendipitous discovery of a gravitational lens induced by a cosmic string?. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 343(2), 353–359 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Sazhina O.S., Scognamiglio D., Sazhin M.V.: Observational constraints on the types of cosmic strings. Eur. Phys. J. C 74(8), 2972 (2014)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Schild R., Masnyak I.S., Hnatyk B.I., Zhdanov V.I.: Anomalous fluctuations in observations of q0957+561a,b: smoking gun of a cosmic string?. Astron. Astrophys. 422(2), 477–482 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Sharafutdinov, V.A.: Integral Geometry of Tensor Fields. Inverse and Ill-Posed Problems Series. VSP, Utrecht (1994)

  35. Stefanov, P., Uhlmann, G.: Microlocal Analysis and Integral Geometry (in progress)

  36. Stefanov P., Uhlmann G.: Stability estimates for the X-ray transform of tensor fields and boundary rigidity. Duke Math. J. 123(3), 445–467 (2004)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  37. Stefanov P., Uhlmann G.: Boundary rigidity and stability for generic simple metrics. J. Am. Math. Soc. 18(4), 975–1003 (2005)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  38. Taylor M.E.: Partial Differential Equations. I. Basic Theory. Applied Mathematical Sciences, vol. 115. Springer, New York (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Vilenkin A., Shellard E.P.S.: Cosmic Strings and Other Topological Defects. Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1994)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gunther Uhlmann.

Additional information

Communicated by S. Zelditch

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lassas, M., Oksanen, L., Stefanov, P. et al. On the Inverse Problem of Finding Cosmic Strings and Other Topological Defects. Commun. Math. Phys. 357, 569–595 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00220-017-3029-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00220-017-3029-0

Navigation