Bounds on Cosmic Strings from WMAP and SDSS

We find the constraints from WMAP and SDSS data on the fraction of cosmological fluctuations sourced by local cosmic strings using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis. In addition to varying the usual 6 cosmological parameters and the string tension (mu), we also varied the amount of small-scale structure on the strings. Our results indicate that cosmic strings can account for up to 7 (14) % of the total power of the microwave anisotropy at 68 (95) % confidence level. The corresponding bound on the string mass per unit length, within our string model, is G mu < 3.4 (5) * 10^{-7} at 68 (95)% c.l. We also calculate the B-type polarization spectra sourced by cosmic strings and discuss the prospects of their detection