Journal Article

PUBDB-2025-04362

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Non-Gaussian statistics of nanohertz stochastic gravitational waves

Xue, X. (Corresponding author)Extern*DESY* ; Pan, Z. ; Dai, L.

2025
American Physical Society Ridge, NY

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.111.043022  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2025-04362

Report No.: DESY-24-137; arXiv:2409.19516

Abstract: Multiple pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) have recently reported evidence for nHz stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB), stimulating intensive discussions about its physical origin. In principle, the sources may be either supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) or processes in the early Universe. One key difference between the two lies in the statistics of the SGWB frequency power spectrum. In particular, the often assumed Gaussian random SGWB does not accurately describe the distribution of the collective SMBHB emission. This work presents a semianalytical framework for calculating the non-Gaussian statistics of SGWB power expected from SMBHBs. We find that (a) wave interference between individual SMBHBs with indistinguishable observed frequencies and (b) the Poisson fluctuation of the source numbers, together shape the non-Gaussian statistics. Implementing the non-Gaussian statistics developed in this work, we investigate the sensitivity of current and future PTA datasets in distinguishing the origin of the SGWB through non-Gaussian information. Additionally, we find an interesting approximation of the non-Gaussian statistics, which has implications for accurately and practically treating non-Gaussianity in PTA Bayesian analyses.

Keyword(s): gravitational radiation, stochastic ; black hole, binary ; gravitational radiation, background ; statistics ; non-Gaussianity ; power spectrum ; fluctuation ; sensitivity ; interference ; Poisson ; Bayesian ; pulsar ; collective

Note: 14 pages including references, 8 figures. Accepted by Phys. Rev. D

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Uni Hamburg / Theorie (UNI/TH)

Research Program(s):

1. 611 - Fundamental Particles and Forces (POF4-611) (POF4-611)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)390833306 - EXC 2121: Quantum Universe (390833306) (390833306)

Experiment(s):

1. No specific instrument

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Electronics and Telecommunications Collection ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; SCOAP3 sponsored Journal ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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Linked articles:

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Preprint Xue, X. (Corresponding author)Extern*DESY* ; Pan, Z. ; Dai, L.
Non-Gaussian Statistics of Nanohertz Stochastic Gravitational Waves
[10.3204/PUBDB-2024-05893]     Files  Fulltext by arXiv.org BibTeX | EndNote: XML, Text | RIS

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