Are textures natural?

We make the simple observation that, because of global symmetry violating higher-dimension operators expected to be induced by Planck-scale physics, textures are generically much too short-lived to be of use for large-scale structure formation. The texture scenario for large-scale structure formation is an attractive alternative to inflation or other, defect mediated, proposals based on new physics at a high-energy scale [1]. The model assumes the existence of a nonabelian global continuous symmetry which, when broken at the GUT scale, leads to a topologi-cal defect known as a texture. With one free parameter, the symmetry-breaking scale v, the model reproduces galaxy-galaxy correlation functions, finds significant galaxy clustering on scales of 20-50 h −1 Mpc, structure on larger scales, and coherent velocity fields on scales similar to those observed in large-scale surveys. The optimal value of v turns out to be 10 16 GeV, the GUT scale [2]. Another advantage is that the theory also predicts a distinctive signature in the cosmic microwave background and will therefore be testable in the near future [3]. We feel that given