A unique gravitational wave signal from phase transition during inflation*
Haipeng An, Kun-Feng Lyu, Liantao 王连涛 Wang, Siyi Zhou
Abstract
Abstract We study the properties of gravitational wave (GW) signals produced by first-order phase transitions during the inflation era. We show that the power spectrum of a GW oscillates with its wave number. This signal can be observed directly by future terrestrial and spatial GW detectors and through the B-mode spectrum in the CMB. This oscillatory feature of the GW is generic for any approximately instantaneous sources occurring during inflation and is distinct from the GW from phase transitions after inflation. The details of the GW spectrum contain information about the scale of the phase transition and the later evolution of the universe.
Topics & Concepts
PhysicsGravitational waveInflation (cosmology)Cosmic microwave backgroundSIGNAL (programming language)Phase transitionPhase (matter)Spectral densityAstrophysicsSpectrum (functional analysis)Theoretical physicsOpticsQuantum mechanicsTelecommunicationsAnisotropyComputer scienceProgramming languagePulsars and Gravitational Waves ResearchCosmology and Gravitation TheoriesGeophysics and Gravity Measurements