WIGGLY RELATIVISTIC STRINGS

We derive the equations of motion for general strings, i.e., strings with arbitrary relation between tension tau and energy per unit length epsilon. The renormalization of tau and epsilon that results from averaging out small scale wiggles on the string is obtained in the general case to lowest order in the amount of wiggliness. For Nambu-Goto strings we find deviations from the equation of state epsilontau = const in higher orders. Finally we argue that wiggliness may radically modify the cosmic gauge string scenario.