Cosmological Consequences of Topological Defects: Dark Energy and Varying Fundamental Constants

Understand

We investigated domain wall networks as a possible candidate to explain the present accelerated expansion of the universe.

• We discuss various requirements that any stable lattice of frustrated walls must obey and propose a class of `ideal' model (in terms of its potential to lead to network frustration).
• By using the results of the largest and most accurate three-dimensional field theory simulations of domain wall networks with junctions, we find compelling evidence for a gradual approach to scaling.
• We conjecture that, even though one can build (by hand) lattices that would be stable, no such lattices will ever come out of realistic domain wall forming cosmological phase transitions.