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  • Letter
  • Open Access

Implications of pulsar timing array data for scalar-induced gravitational waves and primordial black holes: Primordial non-Gaussianity fNL considered

Sai Wang1, Zhi-Chao Zhao2,*, Jun-Peng Li1,3, and Qing-Hua Zhu4

  • 1Theoretical Physics Division, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
  • 2Department of Applied Physics, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Qinghua East Road, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
  • 3School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
  • 4CAS Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China

  • *Corresponding author: zhaozc@cau.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Research 6, L012060 – Published 15 March, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.L012060

Abstract

Multiple pulsar-timing-array collaborations have reported strong evidence for the existence of a gravitational-wave background. We study physical implications of this signal for cosmology, assuming that it is attributed to scalar-induced gravitational waves. By incorporating primordial non-Gaussianity fNL, we specifically examine the nature of primordial curvature perturbations and primordial black holes. We find that the signal allows for a primordial non-Gaussianity fNL in the range of −4.1≲fNL≲4.1 (68% confidence intervals) and a mass range for primordial black holes mpbh spanning from ∼10−5M⊙ to ∼10−2M⊙. Furthermore, we find that the signal favors a negative non-Gaussianity, which can suppress the abundance of primordial black holes. We also demonstrate that the anisotropies of scalar-induced gravitational waves serve as a powerful tool to probe the non-Gaussianity fNL. We conduct a comprehensive analysis of the angular power spectrum within the nano-Hertz band. Looking ahead, we anticipate that future projects, such as the Square Kilometre Array, will have the potential to measure these anisotropies and provide further insights into the primordial universe.

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Phys. Rev. Research 6, L012060– Published 15 March, 2024
  • Received 28 September 2023
  • Accepted 14 February 2024
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