The astrophysical gravitational wave stochastic background

TL;DR

This paper reviews the astrophysical sources of gravitational wave stochastic backgrounds, their detection methods, and how they differ from primordial signals, highlighting their significance in understanding stellar evolution and cosmology.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of astrophysical processes producing gravitational wave backgrounds and discusses detection strategies and distinguishing features from primordial signals.

Findings

Astrophysical backgrounds can inform about stellar and compact object properties.

Detection methods are capable of identifying stochastic gravitational wave signals.

Statistical properties help differentiate astrophysical from primordial backgrounds.

Abstract

A gravitational wave stochastic background of astrophysical origin may have resulted from the superposition of a large number of unresolved sources since the beginning of stellar activity. Its detection would put very strong constrains on the physical properties of compact objects, the initial mass function or the star formation history. On the other hand, it could be a 'noise' that would mask the stochastic background of cosmological origin. We review the main astrophysical processes able to produce a stochastic background and discuss how it may differ from the primordial contribution by its statistical properties. Current detection methods are also presented.