Local and global quantum effects on cosmic string space-time
Fursaev D. V.
The effective action and vacuum energy of a quantum scalar field near a cosmic string are considered. Analogy is pointed out with quantum theory with boundaries. The surface infinities in the effective action are shown to appear and to be removed by renormalization of the string tension. The total renormalized energy of the string and field turns out to be finite due to cancellation of the known nonintegrable divergence in the energy density of the field with a counterterm in the bare string tension.