Thermal gravitational waves in accelerating universe

• Main Author: B Ghayour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Isfahan University of Technology 2013-10-01
• Series: Iranian Journal of Physics Research
• Subjects: gravitational waves; thermal vacuum state
• Online Access: http://ijpr.iut.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1039-5&slc_lang=en&sid=1

Gravitational waves are considered in thermal vacuum state. The amplitude and spectral energy density of gravitational waves are found enhanced in thermal vacuum state compared to its zero temperature counterpart. Therefore, the allowed amount of enhancement depends on the upper bound of WMAP-5 and WMAP-7 for the amplitude and spectral energy density of gravitational waves. The enhancement of amplitude and spectral energy density of the waves in thermal vacuum state is consistent with current accelerating phase of the universe. The enhancement feature of amplitude and spectral energy density of the waves is independent of the expansion model of the universe and hence the thermal effect accounts for it. Therefore, existence of thermal gravitational waves is not ruled out