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Imprint of domain wall annihilation on induced gravitational waves

Rishav Roshan

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Phys. Rev. D 114, 055046 – Published 23 September, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/2b6b-44sb

Abstract

Domain wall annihilation can leave a distinctive imprint on the induced gravitational wave spectrum. During annihilation, most of the domain wall energy transforms into the scalar field responsible for the initial Z2 symmetry breaking that created the walls, along with any coupled species. If the produced scalar is sufficiently long lived, its delayed decay drives an early matter-dominated phase following domain wall annihilation, significantly amplifying induced gravitational waves from primordial perturbations. The subsequent transition to radiation domination dilutes the domain wall contribution through entropy injection while preserving the enhanced induced signal. This creates a gravitational wave spectrum with two distinct peaks detectable across complementary frequency bands. We explore the observable parameter space and demonstrate how multiband detection can probe early Universe symmetry breaking.

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Phys. Rev. D 114, 055046– Published 23 September, 2026
  • Received 12 May 2026
  • Accepted 8 September 2026
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