Non-Gaussian stochastic gravitational waves from phase transitions

Cosmological phase transitions in the primordial universe can produce anisotropic stochastic gravitational wave backgrounds (GWB), similar to the cosmic microwave background (CMB). For adiabatic perturbations, the fluctuations in GWB follow those in the CMB, but if primordial fluctuations carry an isocurvature component, this need no longer be true. It is shown that in non-minimal inflationary and reheating settings, primordial isocurvature can survive in GWB and exhibit significant non-Gaussianity (NG) in contrast to the CMB, while obeying current observational bounds. While probing such NG GWB is at best a marginal possibility at LISA, there is much greater scope at future proposed detectors such as DECIGO and BBO. It is even possible that the first observations of inflation-era NG could be made with gravitational wave detectors as opposed to the CMB or Large-Scale Structure surveys.

Automated summary

Cosmological phase transitions in the primordial universe can generate anisotropic stochastic gravitational wave backgrounds, some of which are related to the cosmic microwave background, and some may exhibit significant non-Gaussianity. By using gravitational wave detectors, it is possible to detect the isocurvature component in the gravitational wave background, opening up a new possibility for observation.