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Free keywords:
Astrophysics, astro-ph,General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, gr-qc
Abstract:
Based on new developments in the understanding of supernovae (SNe) as
gravitational-wave (GW) sources we estimate the GW background from all cosmic
SNe. For a broad range of frequencies around 1 Hz, this background is crudely
comparable to the GW background expected from standard inflationary models.
While our estimate remains uncertain within several orders of magnitude, the SN
GW background may become detectable by second-generation space-based
interferometers such as the proposed Big-Bang Observatory (BBO). By the same
token, the SN GWs may become a foreground for searches of the inflationary GWs,
in particular for sub-Hz frequencies where the SN background is Gaussian and
where the BBO will be most sensitive. SN simulations lasting far beyond the
usual cutoff of about 1 second are needed for more robust predictions in the
sub-Hz frequency band. An even larger GW background can arise from a
hypothetical early population of massive stars, although their GW source
strength as well as their abundance are currently poorly understood.
