String-dominated universe

The evolution of a universe with ..cap omega.. = 1 which becomes dominated by relatively light, non-intercommuting strings at redshift z/sub s/ is similar to that of a matter-dominated universe with ..cap omega..approx.(2+z/sub s/)/sup -1/<1. The existence of such strings can resolve the conflict between the ..cap omega.. = 1 prediction of inflationary cosmology and observations.