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Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto

Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background generated by Cosmic String Networks

L. Sousa

Abstract.
Cosmic string interactions often result in the formation of cosmic string loops that detach from the long string network, and radiate their energy in the form of gravitational waves. Loop production occurs copiously throughout the cosmological evolution of a cosmic string network and the superimposition of their emissions gives rise to a stochastic gravitational wave background with a characteristic shape. Computations of the this background are often based on the assumption that cosmic string networks experience scale-invariant evolution throughout their evolution. Here, we relax this assumption and demonstrate that it leads to an underestimation of the amplitude and broadness of the characteristic peak of the spectrum, that may consequently lead to inaccurate observational constraints on the cosmic string tension.

IAU Symposium 306: Statistical challenges in 21st century cosmology
Lisbon, Portugal
May 2014

Type: Poster

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) is a new but long anticipated research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold but feasible vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). IA resulted from the merging the two most prominent research units in the field in Portugal: the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Lisbon (CAAUL). It currently hosts more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the area of Space Sciences. This is the scientific area with the highest relative impact factor (1.65 times above the international average) and the field with the highest average number of citations per article for Portugal.

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