Implements full-Stokes SGWB map-making for ground-based networks, applies to LVK O3 data, and constrains polarized angular spectra while showing intensity-only models can be biased.
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Detection methods for stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds: a unified treatment
Canonical reference. 78% of citing Pith papers cite this work as background.
abstract
We review detection methods that are currently in use or have been proposed to search for a stochastic background of gravitational radiation. We consider both Bayesian and frequentist searches using ground-based and space-based laser interferometers, spacecraft Doppler tracking, and pulsar timing arrays; and we allow for anisotropy, non-Gaussianity, and non-standard polarization states. Our focus is on relevant data analysis issues, and not on the particular astrophysical or early Universe sources that might give rise to such backgrounds. We provide a unified treatment of these searches at the level of detector response functions, detection sensitivity curves, and, more generally, at the level of the likelihood function, since the choice of signal and noise models and prior probability distributions are actually what define the search. Pedagogical examples are given whenever possible to compare and contrast different approaches. We have tried to make the article as self-contained and comprehensive as possible, targeting graduate students and new researchers looking to enter this field.
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representative citing papers
Ultralight dark matter exhibits recoherence due to the solar gravitational potential, yielding formally divergent coherence times at long timescales and enhanced search sensitivity.
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Optimal placement of two stations in an isotropic Gaussian seismic field reduces equivalent seismic noise ASD by a factor of ~2.3 at 0.3 Hz versus a single station, producing oscillatory features from Bessel-function correlations.
A dipole pulsar timing array detects chiral nanohertz gravitational waves and extends PTA sensitivity into the microhertz regime.
A hierarchical Bayesian inference framework combining free-spectrum reconstruction with population-level likelihoods distinguishes finite SMBHB populations from Gaussian primordial GWB using mock PTA data.
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Residual anomalous coherence in scalar perturbations imprints on scalar-induced tensor modes, producing a correlated gravitational-wave background with nontrivial covariance and phase structure instead of a simple spectral shift.
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A phenomenological dipole anisotropy in primordial perturbations induces dipolar and quadrupolar anisotropies in SIGW energy density spectra, producing frequency-dependent PTA overlap reduction functions that depend on pulsar sky distribution, but NANOGrav 15-year data yields no significant evidence
Inflaton accretion during reheating drives non-linear PBH mass growth that extends lifetimes and amplifies emitted SGWB by multiple orders of magnitude.
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citing papers explorer
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Polarized Anisotropic Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background Search with Ground-Based Detector Networks
Implements full-Stokes SGWB map-making for ground-based networks, applies to LVK O3 data, and constrains polarized angular spectra while showing intensity-only models can be biased.
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Is the Conventional Picture of Coherence Time Complete? Dark Matter Recoherence
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New Sensitivity Curves for Gravitational-Wave Signals from Cosmological Phase Transitions
Defines peak-integrated sensitivity curves (PISCs) that fold in the expected spectral shape of gravitational waves from cosmological phase transitions and supplies semianalytical fits plus public data for major detectors.
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Seismic background mitigation with the Lunar Gravitational-wave Antenna
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Detecting Chiral Gravitational Wave Background with a Dipole Pulsar Timing Array
A dipole pulsar timing array detects chiral nanohertz gravitational waves and extends PTA sensitivity into the microhertz regime.
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Population statistics of nanohertz gravitational wave sources
A hierarchical Bayesian inference framework combining free-spectrum reconstruction with population-level likelihoods distinguishes finite SMBHB populations from Gaussian primordial GWB using mock PTA data.
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A thorough investigation of cross-correlation estimators for stochastic gravitational-wave background searches in ground-based detector data
Reformulation of frequency-domain narrowband cross-correlation estimators for SGWB searches provides new expressions for estimators and covariances, while showing that widely used prior expressions still yield correct posteriors and log-Bayes factors.
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Entanglement, Discord, and Residual Coherence in Scalar-Induced Gravitational Waves
Residual anomalous coherence in scalar perturbations imprints on scalar-induced tensor modes, producing a correlated gravitational-wave background with nontrivial covariance and phase structure instead of a simple spectral shift.
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Constraints on primordial black holes from the first part of LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA fourth observing run
O4a gravitational-wave data give 95% CL upper limits f_PBH ~ 1e-2 to 1e-4 for monochromatic primordial black holes with mean masses 0.6-100 M_sun, with no evidence of a PBH merger component.
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Are PTA measurements sensitive to gravitational wave non-Gaussianities?
PTA statistical tests cannot distinguish Gaussian and non-Gaussian GWB amplitude distributions in a model-agnostic way after decorrelation.
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Photon counting readout for detection and inference of gravitational waves from neutron star merger remnants
Photon counting readout detects weak postmerger gravitational wave signals at a rate of about 1 in 100 for SNR 0.2 and yields a twofold improvement in neutron star radius measurement after 20,000 events.
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Isotropy, anisotropies and non-Gaussianity in the scalar-induced gravitational-wave background: diagrammatic approach for primordial non-Gaussianity up to arbitrary order
Extends diagrammatic approach for scalar-induced gravitational waves to arbitrary-order local PNG, deriving semi-analytic spectra for energy density, anisotropies, bispectrum and trispectrum up to quartic terms.
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Exploring the statistical anisotropy of primordial curvature perturbations with pulsar timing arrays
A phenomenological dipole anisotropy in primordial perturbations induces dipolar and quadrupolar anisotropies in SIGW energy density spectra, producing frequency-dependent PTA overlap reduction functions that depend on pulsar sky distribution, but NANOGrav 15-year data yields no significant evidence
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Inflaton Accretion onto Primordial Black Holes During Reheating
Inflaton accretion during reheating drives non-linear PBH mass growth that extends lifetimes and amplifies emitted SGWB by multiple orders of magnitude.
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Primary gravitational waves at high frequencies I: Origin of suppression in the power spectrum
Adiabatic regularization combined with smoothed transitions suppresses the high-frequency oscillations in the power spectrum of primary gravitational waves about a zero mean.
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Measuring gravitational wave spectrum from electroweak phase transition and Higgs self-couplings
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Sensitivity forecasts for gravitational-wave detectors to dark matter decaying into gravitons
Model-independent forecasts for the stochastic gravitational-wave background from ultralight dark matter decaying into gravitons and the sensitivity of current and future detectors to this signal.
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Impact of facility timing and coordination for next-generation gravitational-wave detectors
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Precision Solar System Dynamics for Ultralight Dark Matter Search
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Synergies Between Pulsar Timing Array and Astrometry
Joint SKA PTA and astrometry analysis improves gravitational wave background detection sensitivity by 10-50%.
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The impact of waveform systematics and Gaussian noise on the interpretation of GW231123
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Not too close! Evaluating the impact of the baseline on the localization of binary black holes by next-generation gravitational-wave detectors
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Orientation matters: Consequences for gravitational-wave background detectability
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The Science of the Einstein Telescope
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