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Digging Deeper: Observing Primordial Gravitational Waves below the Binary-Black-Hole-Produced Stochastic Background.
T Regimbau1, M Evans2, N Christensen1,3
1Artemis, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Observatoire Côte d'Azur, CS 34229, Nice cedex 4, France.
Physical Review Letters
|April 29, 2017
Summary
Future gravitational wave detectors can overcome the black hole merger background. This will allow scientists to detect the elusive primordial gravitational wave background, offering insights into the early universe.
Area of Science:
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Cosmology
- Gravitational Wave Physics
Background:
- Advanced LIGO detections of black hole binaries suggest their merger rate may obscure the primordial gravitational wave background.
- A significant stochastic background from cosmological black hole mergers is predicted.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the capability of next-generation gravitational wave detectors in observing the primordial gravitational wave background.
- To determine if the confusion background from binary black hole mergers can be subtracted.
Main Methods:
- Simulations using projected sensitivities of future detectors like the Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer.
- Analysis of potential signal-to-noise ratios for detecting the primordial gravitational wave background.
Main Results:
- Next-generation detectors will efficiently observe binary black hole mergers across the universe.
- Potential to subtract the confusion background after 5 years of observation.
Conclusions:
- The primordial gravitational wave background may be observable at Ω_{GW}≃10^{-13} with future detectors.
- This opens a new window for studying the early universe and fundamental physics.
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