Space-Time Anomaly: Cosmic String's Identification Possible Through Gravitational Wave

Through time, theories and concepts about space-time anomalies have been brought up. These celestial abnormalities, also known as cosmic strings, are cracks scattered across the space-time regions of the cosmos. And while the cosmic strings are not proven yet to be factual, a recent study suggests that we can now peak through these heavenly peculiarities not by traditional astronomical measurements but through gravitational waves.

What are Cosmic Strings?

Fundamental forces have been around since the beginning of the universe. Hypothetically these forces are formed by numerous phases before they even began as what we now perceive as the universe. The fundamental forces include nuclear force, electromagnetism, and gravity.

The forces are actively working since day zero of the universe. And since then, it was dispersing numerous times up until now. As it broadens, the separate forces required energies such as the fundamental quantum vacuum of space-time to realign and sustain new forces.

According to Space, a great example of force realignment can be observed in ice cubes in a tray. As the phase of matter transitions from liquid to solid, the water inside the trays starts to solidify producing a crystallized form. While the growth is taking effect, some water molecules will stay or spread out from a particular region. The change in place of molecules won't affect the transition, and the forming of water to ice will be successful at the right amount of temperature.

However, the ice cubes materialized inside the tray will not always be perfect and will contain defects in its structure because of the various molecular dispersion. These imperfections are the uneven surface and cracks of the ice cubes, which in concept applies to the cosmic strings.

In relation to the ice cube's example, cosmic strings are flaws developed in space-time throughout the evolving universe. These flaws come in various forms of dimensions. Among these variants are the one-dimensional fissure, which happens to be the most common cosmic string.

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Observing Cosmic Strings Through Gravitational Waves

Since a cosmic string is a distortion in the space-time fabric, encountering one is problematic. For example, a cosmic string is not wide as a proton but as heavy as the Earth's entire mass. It can also distort light emitted by any background materials. Due to intense energy particles, cosmic strings could also glow and emit high radiation when interacting with other materials, particles, or forces.

The only possible way to observe cosmic strings as of now is to wait for one to be tangled with the other. In this way, multiple stings will form, producing an unstable, massive vibration, emitting heavy energy up until they vanish. But, according to a study published on arXiv entitled "Nonlinear gravitational-wave memory from cusps and kinks on cosmic strings," instead of looking for the hard-to-find signals of cosmic strings, we should inspect for clues they inflict in the space-time fabric.

The gravitational waves are the best solution to recognize cosmic strings easily. These waves appear as ripples in the face of space-time. A group of gravitational waves must be first in place to have a clear identification of cosmic strings. Unlike water and sound waves, gravitational waves don't just pass through space-time. It leaves 'memories' in the form of permanent hums. These memories are now the next step to fully observe cosmic strings, with the help of ongoing technological developments and the present Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) by NASA.