Constraints on cosmic strings using data from the third advanced LIGO-Virgo observing run

Abbott, R. and Angelova, S. V. and BenYaala, M. and Gier, C. and Hill, P. and Reid, S. and Wallace, G. S., LIGO Scientific Collaboration, Virgo Collaboration, KAGRA Collaboration (2021) Constraints on cosmic strings using data from the third advanced LIGO-Virgo observing run. Physical Review Letters, 126 (24). 241102. ISSN 1079-7114 (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.241102)

[thumbnail of Abbott-etal-PRL-2021-Constraints-on-cosmic-strings-using-data-from-the-third-advanced-LIGO-Virgo-observing-run]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Abbott_etal_PRL_2021_Constraints_on_cosmic_strings_using_data_from_the_third_advanced_LIGO_Virgo_observing_run.pdf
Final Published Version
Download (998kB)| Preview

Abstract

We search for gravitational-wave signals produced by cosmic strings in the Advanced LIGO and Virgo full O3 dataset. Search results are presented for gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loop features such as cusps, kinks, and, for the first time, kink-kink collisions. A template-based search for short-duration transient signals does not yield a detection. We also use the stochastic gravitational-wave background energy density upper limits derived from the O3 data to constrain the cosmic string tension G μ as a function of the number of kinks, or the number of cusps, for two cosmic string loop distribution models. Additionally, we develop and test a third model that interpolates between these two models. Our results improve upon the previous LIGO–Virgo constraints on G μ by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude depending on the model that is tested. In particular, for the one-loop distribution model, we set the most competitive constraints to date: G μ ≲ 4 × 10 − 15 . In the case of cosmic strings formed at the end of inflation in the context of grand unified theories, these results challenge simple inflationary models.

ORCID iDs

Abbott, R., Angelova, S. V., BenYaala, M., Gier, C., Hill, P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4826-3531, Reid, S. and Wallace, G. S.;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:77828
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    16 June 2021
    Published
    23 May 2021
    Accepted
    Keywords:cosmic strings, domain walls, gravitational waves, cosmology, astrophysics, Astronomy, Astronomy and Astrophysics
    Subjects:Science > Astronomy
    Department:Faculty of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:20 Sep 2021 15:44
    Last modified:22 Mar 2023 05:44
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/77828
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)