Cosmic string parameter constraints and model analysis using small scale Cosmic Microwave Background data

We present a significant update of the constraints on the Abelian Higgs cosmic string tension by cosmic microwave background (CMB) data, enabled both by the use of new high-resolution CMB data from suborbital experiments as well as the latest results of the WMAP satellite, and by improved predictions for the impact of Abelian Higgs cosmic strings on the CMB power spectra. The new cosmic string spectra [1] were improved especially for small angular scales, through the use of larger Abelian Higgs string simulations and careful extrapolation. If Abelian Higgs strings are present then we find improved bounds on their contribution to the CMB anisotropies, AH < 0.095, and on their tension, Gμ AH < 0.57 × 10 -6, both at 95% confidence level using WMAP7 data; and AH < 0.048 and Gμ AH < 0.42 × 10 -6 using all the CMB data. We also find that using all the CMB data, a scale invariant initial perturbation spectrum, n s = 1, is now disfavoured at 2.4σ even if strings are present. A Bayesian model selection analysis no longer indicates a preference for strings. ©2011 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.