• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Gravitational waves in cold dark matter

Raphael Flauger and Steven Weinberg
Phys. Rev. D 97, 123506 – Published 7 June 2018
Physics logo See Synopsis: Dark Matter Undetectable in Gravitational Waves

Abstract

We study the effects of cold dark matter on the propagation of gravitational waves of astrophysical and primordial origin. We show that the dominant effect of cold dark matter on gravitational waves from astrophysical sources is a small frequency dependent modification of the propagation speed of gravitational waves. However, the magnitude of the effect is too small to be detected in the near future. We furthermore show that the spectrum of primordial gravitational waves in principle contains detailed information about the properties of dark matter. However, depending on the wavelength, the effects are either suppressed because the dark matter is highly nonrelativistic or because it contributes a small fraction of the energy density of the universe. As a consequence, the effects of cold dark matter on primordial gravitational waves in practice also appear too small to be detectable.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 22 December 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.97.123506

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Gravitation, Cosmology & Astrophysics

Synopsis

Key Image

Dark Matter Undetectable in Gravitational Waves

Published 7 June 2018

Calculations show that dark matter affects the propagation of gravitational waves but at a level far below the sensitivity of current detectors.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Raphael Flauger*

  • Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California 92093, USA

Steven Weinberg

  • Theory Group, Department of Physics, University of Texas Austin, Texas 78712, USA

  • *flauger@physics.ucsd.edu
  • weinberg@physics.utexas.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 97, Iss. 12 — 15 June 2018

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×