Non-Gaussianity test for discriminating gravitational wave backgrounds around 0.1-1Hz

TL;DR

This paper introduces a non-Gaussianity test for gravitational wave backgrounds to distinguish smooth inflation signals from burst-contaminated backgrounds in the 0.1-1Hz frequency range, aiding future detector analysis.

Contribution

It presents a simple, effective method to test the Gaussianity of gravitational wave backgrounds using multiple detector data streams, useful for upcoming space-based observatories.

Findings

The test can differentiate inflation-like backgrounds from burst-contaminated ones.

Useful for detectors like Big Bang Observer and DECIGO.

Helps identify the nature of gravitational wave signals in the 0.1-1Hz band.

Abstract

We propose a non-Gaussianity test for gravitational wave backgrounds by combining data streams of multiple detectors. This simple method allows us to check whether a detected background is "smooth" enough to be consistent with an inflation-type background, or is contaminated by individually undetectable weak burst signals. The proposed test would be quite useful for the Big Bang Observer or DECIGO whose primary target is a background from inflation at 0.1-1Hz where gravitational wave bursts from supernovae of population III stars might become a troublesome foreground.