Cosmic String Microlensing for WFIRST
Abstract
Cosmic strings accumulate like dark matter in the potentials of gravitationally bound structures in the Universe. Thus, missions targeting the bulge of our galaxy are of interest for searches of cosmic loops. WFIRST observations of the bulge will be sensitive to string tensions in the range of 10-15 to 10-12. We evaluate WFIRST's efficiency for detecting cosmic string microlensing, assessing the effect of various detection criteria on the rate of false dismissals and false detections. Our method is to generate data representative of string loop properties and simulate the predicted WFIRST observations. We suggest strategies that optimize prospects for detection and measuring string loop tensions and parameters. Detecting cosmic strings WFIRST would allow us to have a better understanding of the physical laws that governed the early universe, as well as a better understanding of the inflation era and how topological defects were created.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #235
- Pub Date:
- January 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AAS...23530306G