Search for Cosmic Strings in Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies

Abstract

We have searched the first-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) W-band CMB anisotropy map for evidence of cosmic strings. We set a limit on the dimensionless string parameter δ of δ=8πGμγβ<2.9×10-5 for the statistical search for a significant number of strings in the map. We also set a limit using the uniform-distribution-of-strings model in the WMAP data with δ=8πGμγβ<7.3×10-5 at the 95% confidence level (CL). The pattern search technique we developed in this paper set a limit δ=8πGμγβ<1.5×10-5 at the 95% CL, which corresponds to a limit on the symmetry-breaking energy scale of .