Gravitational wave non-linearities and pulsar-timing array angular correlations

TL;DR

This paper explores how non-Gaussian, non-linear gravitational wave backgrounds could alter pulsar-timing array correlations, potentially explaining deviations from expected Hellings-Downs patterns in PTA data.

Contribution

It introduces the idea that non-Gaussian gravitational wave backgrounds can modify PTA angular correlations, offering an alternative explanation for current observational hints.

Findings

Non-Gaussian backgrounds can modulate PTA correlation functions.

Post-inflation cosmological processes may generate such non-Gaussian signals.

This scenario provides a new perspective on interpreting PTA data anomalies.

Abstract

Several pulsar-timing array (PTA) collaborations are finding tantalising hints for a stochastic gravitational wave background signal in the nano-Hertz regime. So far, though, no convincing evidence for the expected Hellings-Downs quadrupolar correlations has been found. While this issue might get fixed at the light of more accurate, forthcoming data, it is important to keep an eye open on different possibilities, and explore scenarios able to produce different types of PTA angular correlations. We point out that a stationary non-Gaussian component to the gravitational wave background can modulate the 2-point PTA overlap reduction function, adding contributions that can help in fitting the angular distribution of PTA data. We discuss possible sources for such non-Gaussian signal in terms of cosmological processes occurring after inflation ends, and we investigate further tests for this idea.