Gravitational Wave Detection Using Redshifted 21-cm Observations

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of using redshifted 21-cm observations of neutral hydrogen to detect primordial gravitational waves through their unique imprint on the redshift space power spectrum.

Contribution

It introduces a method to distinguish gravitational wave signals from peculiar velocities in the redshift space power spectrum of 21-cm radiation.

Findings

Gravitational wave signals are distinguishable by their dependence.

Detection prospects are limited by cosmic variance and signal suppression.

Primordial gravitational waves are unlikely to be detectable with current methods.

Abstract

A gravitational wave traversing the line of sight to a distant source produces a frequency shift which contributes to redshift space distortion. As a consequence, gravitational waves are imprinted as density fluctuations in redshift space. The gravitational wave contribution to the redshift space power spectrum. has a different \mu dependence as compared to the dominant contribution from peculiar velocities. This allows the two signals to be separated. The prospect of a detection is most favourable at the highest observable redshift z. Observations of redshifted 21-cm radiation from neutral hydrogen (HI) hold the possibility of probing very high redshifts. We consider the possibility of detecting primordial gravitational waves using the redshift space HI power spectrum. However, we find that the gravitational wave signal, though present, will not be detectable on super-horizon scales because of cosmic variance and on sub-horizon scales where the signal is highly suppressed.