Axion bremsstrahlung from collisions of global strings

We calculate axion radiation emitted in the collision of two straight global strings. The strings are supposed to be in the unexcited ground state, to be inclined with respect to each other, and to move in parallel planes. Radiation arises when the point of minimal separation between the strings moves faster than light. This effect exhibits a typical Cerenkov nature. Surprisingly, it allows an alternative interpretation as bremsstrahlung under a collision of point charges in 2+1 electrodynamics. This can be demonstrated by suitable world-sheet reparameterizations and dimensional reduction. Cosmological estimates show that our mechanism generates axion production comparable with that from the oscillating string loops and may lead to further restrictions on the axion window.