Gravitational back reaction on piecewise linear cosmic string loops

Understand

We calculate the metric and affine connection due to a piecewise linear cosmic string loop, and the effect of gravitational back reaction for the Garfinkle-Vachaspati loop with four straight segments.

• As expected, back reaction reduces the size of the loop, in accord with the energy going into gravitational waves.
• The "square" (maximally symmetric) loop evaporates without changing shape, but for all other loops in this class, the kinks become less sharp and segments between kinks become curved.
• If the loop is close to the square case, it will evaporate before its kinks are significantly changed, if it is far from square, the opening out of the kinks is much faster than evaporation of the loop.