MICROPHYSICS OF SO(10) COSMIC STRINGS

We uncover a rich microphysical structure for SO(10) cosmic strings. F or the Abelian string the electroweak symmetry is restored around it i n a region depending on the electroweak scale. Four distinct non-Abeli an strings are found. Some of these also restore the electroweak symme try. We investigate the zero mode structure of our strings. Whilst the re are right-handed neutrino zero modes for the Abelian string, they d o not survive the electroweak phase transition in the case of the lowe st energy solution. We elucidate the zero mode structure for the non-A belian strings above and below the electroweak phase transition. We co nsider the generalization of our results to other theories and conside r the cosmological consequences of them.