More accurate gravitational wave backgrounds from cosmic strings

More accurate gravitational wave backgrounds from cosmic strings
Jeremy M. Wachter, Ken D. Olum, Jose J. Blanco-Pillado
arXiv:2411.16590v2 Announce Type: replace-cross
Abstract: We derive a general procedure for calculating the gravitational wave background (GWB) from cosmic string loops whose typical shape evolves over time, as in gravitational backreaction. Using the results of a large-scale study of numerical gravitational backreaction on Nambu-Goto cosmic string loops, we construct GWBs of backreacted cosmic strings for a range of tensions and frequencies of cosmological interest, and compare them to current and upcoming gravitational wave detectors. The GWBs are lower than prior predictions by anywhere from a few percent to around 30%, depending on the frequency and tension in question.arXiv:2411.16590v2 Announce Type: replace-cross
Abstract: We derive a general procedure for calculating the gravitational wave background (GWB) from cosmic string loops whose typical shape evolves over time, as in gravitational backreaction. Using the results of a large-scale study of numerical gravitational backreaction on Nambu-Goto cosmic string loops, we construct GWBs of backreacted cosmic strings for a range of tensions and frequencies of cosmological interest, and compare them to current and upcoming gravitational wave detectors. The GWBs are lower than prior predictions by anywhere from a few percent to around 30%, depending on the frequency and tension in question.