Stochastic background from cosmic (super)strings: Popcorn-like and (Gaussian) continuous regimes

Tania Regimbau, Stefanos Giampanis, Xavier Siemens, Vuk Mandic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the era of the next generation of gravitational wave experiments a stochastic background from cusps of cosmic (super)strings is expected to be probed and, if not detected, to be significantly constrained. A popcornlike background can be, for part of the parameter space, as pronounced as the (Gaussian) continuous contribution from unresolved sources that overlap in frequency and time. We study both contributions from unresolved cosmic string cusps over a range of frequencies relevant to ground based interferometers, such as the LIGO/Virgo second generation and Einstein Telescope third generation detectors, the space antenna LISA, and pulsar timing arrays. We compute the sensitivity (at the 2σ level) in the parameter space for the LIGO/Virgo second generation detector, the Einstein Telescope detector, LISA, and pulsar timing arrays. We conclude that the popcorn regime is complementary to the continuous background. Its detection could therefore enhance confidence in a stochastic background detection and possibly help determine fundamental string parameters such as the string tension and the reconnection probability.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number066001
JournalPhysical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology
Volume85
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2012

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