Search for peak structures in the stochastic gravitational-wave background in LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA O1-O4a datasets

Read full text
Authors: C.-A. Miritescu, M. Martı́nez, Oriol Pujolàs
Cited by: 1
References: 115

Abstract

We present a dedicated search for gravitational-wave backgrounds with nontrivial peak structures using data from the first three and the initial part of the fourth observing runs of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA network. The analysis is motivated by a variety of early-Universe models characterized by signals with multiple peaks. We introduce a model independent parameterization of double-peaked spectra based on the superposition of two normalized broken power laws and perform a Bayesian inference study using the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA isotropic cross-correlation data. While no statistically significant evidence for a multi-peak background is found, the analysis provides constraints on the inter-peak slopes in correlation with the signal amplitude. These results exhibit LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA's ability to probe signals beyond a single peak structure and establish a foundation for future targeted searches for nontrivial gravitational waves background spectral shapes in future observing runs and the advanced detector era.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research Cosmology and Gravitation Theories Black Holes and Theoretical Physics

Publication details

Journal / source
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Volume
113
Issue
6
Publication date
11 February 2026
Language
EN