Mirror QCD phase transition as the origin of the nanohertz Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background
Abstract
Several Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) Collaborations have recently provided strong evidence for a nHz Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background (SGWB). Here we investigate the implications of a first-order phase transition occurring within the early Universe's dark quantum chromodynamics epoch, specifically within the framework of the mirror twin Higgs dark sector model. Our analysis indicates a distinguishable SGWB signal originating from this phase transition, which can explain the measurements obtained by PTAs. Remarkably, a significant portion of the parameter space for the SGWB signal also effectively resolves the existing tensions in both the H0 and S8 measurements in Cosmology. This intriguing correlation suggests a possible common origin of these three phenomena for 0.2 < ΔNeff < 0.5 , where the mirror dark matter component constitutes less than 30 % of the total dark matter abundance. Next-generation CMB experiments such as CMB-S4 can test this parameter region.
- Publication:
-
Science Bulletin
- Pub Date:
- March 2024
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2306.16769
- Bibcode:
- 2024SciBu..69..741Z
- Keywords:
-
- Mirror twin Higgs;
- Dark matter;
- Phase transition;
- Gravitational wave;
- Pulsar timing array;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics;
- High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
- E-Print:
- 7 pages, 4 figures