Sommerfeld Theory Colloquium: Looking for Cosmic Strings Sommerfeld Lecture Series (ASC)

Cosmic strings are linear defects that could be formed at a phase transition in the early universe. Strings are predicted in a wide class of particle physics models. In particular, fundamental strings of superstring theory can have astronomical dimensions and play the role of cosmic strings. I will discuss recent progress in understanding the evolution of cosmic strings and possible ways of detecting them.