Gravitational wave searches in pulsar timing data

Xavier Siemens (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

November 10, 2014

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Abstract: I will review some of the recent progress made in analyzing pulsar timing array data. I will talk about sources of gravitational waves in the nano-Hertz band and prospects for detection. Interestingly, the latest estimates of the amplitude of the stochastic background from super-massive binary black hole coalescences point to a potential discovery date within the decade. I’ll also discuss the potential of gravitational waves to shed light on alternative theories of gravity.