Searches for Cosmic-String Gravitational-Wave Bursts in Mock LISA Data

Understand

A network of observable, macroscopic cosmic (super-)strings may have formed in the early universe.

• If so, the cusps that generically develop on cosmic-string loops emit bursts of gravitational radiation that could be detectable by both ground- and space-based gravitational-wave interferometers.
• Here we report on two versions of a LISA-oriented string-burst search pipeline that we have developed and tested within the context of the Mock LISA Data Challenges.
• The two versions rely on the publicly available MultiNest and PyMC software packages, respectively.