Constraints on cosmic strings from the LIGO-virgo gravitational-wave detectors

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Aasi, J. and Lockerbie, N. A. and Tokmakov, K. V., LIGO Scientific Collaboration, Virgo Collaboration (2014) Constraints on cosmic strings from the LIGO-virgo gravitational-wave detectors. Physical Review Letters, 112 (13). 131101. ISSN 1079-7114 (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.131101)

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Abstract

Cosmic strings can give rise to a large variety of interesting astrophysical phenomena. Among them, powerful bursts of gravitational waves (GWs) produced by cusps are a promising observational signature. In this Letter we present a search for GWs from cosmic string cusps in data collected by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors between 2005 and 2010, with over 625 days of live time. We find no evidence of GW signals from cosmic strings. From this result, we derive new constraints on cosmic string parameters, which complement and improve existing limits from previous searches for a stochastic background of GWs from cosmic microwave background measurements and pulsar timing data. In particular, if the size of loops is given by the gravitational backreaction scale, we place upper limits on the string tension G mu below 10-8 in some regions of the cosmic string parameter space.

ORCID iDs

Aasi, J., Lockerbie, N. A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1678-3260 and Tokmakov, K. V. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2808-6593;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:50704
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    4 April 2014
    Published
    Notes:J. Aasi et al. (LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration) Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 131101. © 2014 American Physical Society
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:09 Dec 2014 14:18
    Last modified:16 Dec 2024 04:31
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/50704
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