Treballs Finals de Grau de Física, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2017, Tutor: Oleg Bulashenko
A mathematical characterization of topological defects is provided, with a discussion of topological stability and the necessary conditions for stable defects to appear. Defect formation in symmetry-breaking phase transitions of the Universe is discussed, and a simple model for the formation of cosmic strings is given. Geodesics in a cosmic string spacetime are calculated for the study of gravitational lensing phenomena