Forecast constraints on cosmic string parameters from gravitational wave direct detection experiments

TL;DR

This paper explores how future gravitational wave experiments can precisely measure cosmic string properties by analyzing GW bursts and backgrounds, improving parameter constraints and breaking degeneracies.

Contribution

It introduces a Fisher matrix analysis combining GW burst and background data to better constrain cosmic string parameters.

Findings

GW observations can significantly improve constraints on string tension Gμ.

Combining burst and background data breaks parameter degeneracies.

Future experiments can probe cosmic string properties more precisely.

Abstract

Gravitational waves (GWs) are one of the key signatures of cosmic strings. If GWs from cosmic strings are detected in future experiments, not only their existence can be confirmed but also their properties might be probed. In this paper, we study the determination of cosmic string parameters through direct detection of GW signatures in future ground-based GW experiments. We consider two types of GWs, bursts and the stochastic GW background, which provide us with different information about cosmic string properties. Performing the Fisher matrix calculation on the cosmic string parameters, such as parameters governing the string tension $G\mu$ and initial loop size $\alpha$ and the reconnection probability $p$, we find that the two different types of GW can break degeneracies in some of these parameters and provide better constraints than those from each measurement.