Cosmological Background Interpretation of Pulsar Timing Array Data
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas · Universitat de València · +4 more institutions
Abstract
We discuss the interpretation of the detected signal by pulsar timing array (PTA) observations as a gravitational wave background of cosmological origin. We combine NANOGrav 15-years and EPTA-DR2new datasets and confront them against backgrounds from supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs), and cosmological signals from inflation, cosmic (super)strings, first-order phase transitions, Gaussian and non-Gaussian large scalar fluctuations, and audible axions. We find that scalar-induced, and to a lesser extent audible axion and cosmic superstring signals, provide a better fit than SMBHBs. These results depend, however, on modeling assumptions, so further data and analysis are needed to reach robust conclusions.…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 29.37
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 242
Authors
4- DGDaniel G. FigueroaCorresponding
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat de València, Instituto de Física Corpuscular
- MPMauro Pieroni
European Organization for Nuclear Research
- ARAngelo Ricciardone
University of Pisa, University of Padua
- PSPeera Simakachorn
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat de València, Instituto de Física Corpuscular
Topics & keywords
- Physics
- Interpretation (philosophy)
- Pulsar
- Astrophysics
- Background radiation
- Astronomy
- Cosmology
- Particle physics