Inflationary interpretation of the nHz gravitational-wave background
Lorenzo Frosina, Alfredo Urbano
Abstract
We construct a single-field model of inflation that achieves remarkable agreement with Planck and BICEP/Keck cosmological observations. The model, via the presence of an ultraslow-roll phase, generates a sizable scalar-induced gravitational wave (GW) signal at nHz frequencies. We elucidate the distinctive features of this signal concerning its connection to the recent measurement of the low-frequency GW background reported by the NANOGrav collaboration.
Topics & Concepts
PhysicsGravitational waveInflation (cosmology)PlanckScalar (mathematics)Scalar fieldInterpretation (philosophy)SIGNAL (programming language)AstrophysicsQuantum electrodynamicsTheoretical physicsClassical mechanicsGeometryProgramming languageComputer scienceMathematicsCosmology and Gravitation TheoriesPulsars and Gravitational Waves ResearchGalaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena