Gravitational waves produced by domain walls during inflation

Abstract

We study the properties of the stochastic gravitational-wave background (SGWB) produced by domain walls (DWs) during inflation without forming a network. We numerically simulate the DW production caused by a second-order phase transition and calculate the SGWB spectrum using a 1000×1000×1000 lattice. We show that the SGWB can be observed directly by future terrestrial and space gravitational-wave detectors and through the B-mode spectrum in the cosmic microwave background. With numerical simulations, we derive an empirical formula for the strength and qualitative features of the SGWB spectrum. The details of the SGWB spectrum also contain information about the later evolution of the Universe. Published by the American Physical Society 2024