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Effect of extra dimensions on gravitational waves from cosmic strings
Eimear O'Callaghan1, Sarah Chadburn, Ghazal Geshnizjani
1Department of Physics, Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom. e.e.o'callaghan@durham.ac.uk
Physical Review Letters
|September 28, 2010
Summary
The motion of cosmic superstrings in extra dimensions dampens gravitational waves from cusps. This effect impacts signals detected by gravitational wave observatories like LIGO and LISA.
Area of Science:
- Cosmology
- String Theory
- Gravitational Wave Astronomy
Background:
- Cosmic superstrings are hypothetical topological defects in spacetime.
- Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by massive accelerating objects.
- Cusps on cosmic strings can generate strong gravitational wave signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how extra dimensions affect the gravitational wave signals from cosmic superstring cusps.
- To quantify the damping effect of extra dimensions on these signals.
- To assess the implications for current and future gravitational wave detectors.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of cosmic superstring dynamics in higher-dimensional spacetimes.
- Analysis of the gravitational wave emission from cusps considering dimensional effects.
- Comparison of predicted signals with sensitivity ranges of LIGO and LISA.
Main Results:
- Extra dimensions round off cusps, reducing their gravitational wave emission.
- The probability of cusp formation is decreased in higher dimensions.
- A significant, dimension-dependent damping of gravitational waves from superstring cusps is observed.
Conclusions:
- The presence of extra dimensions substantially modifies cosmic superstring gravitational wave signals.
- This damping effect needs to be considered when searching for cosmic superstrings with gravitational wave observatories.
- Future gravitational wave observations may provide constraints on the number of extra dimensions.
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