Search for cosmic strings in cosmic microwave background anisotropies

We have searched the first-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) W-band CMB anisotropy map for evidence of cosmic strings. We set a limit on the dimensionless string parameter delta of delta = 8 pi G mu gamma beta < 2.9 x 10(-5) for the statistical search for a significant number of strings in the map. We also set a limit using the uniform-distribution-of-strings model in the WMAP data with delta = 8 pi G mu gamma < 7.3 x 10(-5) at the 95% confidence level (CL). The pattern search technique we developed in this paper set a limit delta = 8 pi G mu gamma beta < 1.5 x 10(-5) at the 95% CL, which corresponds to a limit on the symmetry-breaking energy scale of less than or similar to 10(16) GeV/[gamma beta].