Investigating cosmic histories with a stiff era through gravitational waves
We investigate the potential of gravitational-wave background searches to constrain cosmic histories characterized by a stiff equation of state, preceded by a period of matter domination. Such a scenario leads to a characteristic peak in the primordial gravitational-wave spectrum originating from cosmological inflation. Assuming instant transitions between distinct epochs, which allows for an analytical treatment of the gravitational-wave spectrum, we perform a Bayesian inference analysis to derive constraints from the first three observing runs of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration. Additionally, we consider a smooth transition, employing an axionlike particle physics model, and highlight the differences compared to the instant transition approximation. Finally, we forecast detection prospects for such a cosmic history through future gravitational-wave experiments.
Authors
- Mairi Sakellariadou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2715-1517)
- Sachiko Kuroyanagi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6538-1447)
- A. Romero
- Alberto Mariotti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8320-4169)
- H. Duval (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2475-1728)
Institutions
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
- King's College London (GB)
- Nagoya University (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
- Published
- 2024-11-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.110.103503
- Citations
- 8
- Primary Topic
- Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.65
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Comunidad de Madrid
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Academia Sinica
- Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad
- Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Australian Research Council
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
- Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación
- Centro de Excelencia en Geotermia de Los Andes