Publication
Title
Constraints on cosmic strings using data from the third advanced LIGO-Virgo observing run
Author
Institution/Organisation
LIGO Sci Collaboration
Virgo Collaboration
KAGRA Collaboration
Abstract
We search for gravitational-wave signals produced by cosmic strings in the Advanced LIGO and Virgo full O3 dataset. Search results are presented for gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loop features such as cusps, kinks, and, for the first time, kink-kink collisions. A template-based search for short-duration transient signals does not yield a detection. We also use the stochastic gravitational-wave background energy density upper limits derived from the O3 data to constrain the cosmic string tension G mu as a function of the number of kinks, or the number of cusps, for two cosmic string loop distribution models. Additionally, we develop and test a third model that interpolates between these two models. Our results improve upon the previous LIGO-Virgo constraints on G mu by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude depending on the model that is tested. In particular, for the one-loop distribution model, we set the most competitive constraints to date: G mu less than or similar to 4 x 10(-15). In the case of cosmic strings formed at the end of inflation in the context of grand unified theories, these results challenge simple inflationary models.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Physical review letters. - New York, N.Y., 1958, currens
Publication
New York, N.Y. : American Physical Society , 2021
ISSN
0031-9007 [print]
1079-7114 [online]
DOI
10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.126.241102
Volume/pages
126 :24 (2021) , 19 p.
Article Reference
241102
ISI
000663310100004
Pubmed ID
34213926
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Unlocking the Dark Universe with Gravitational Wave Observations: from QuantumOptics to Quantum Gravity.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 30.07.2021
Last edited 12.12.2024
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