Uncovering stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds with LISA

Abstract

Finding a stochastic gravitational-wave background (SGWB) of astrophysical or primordial origin is one of the quests of current and future gravitational-wave observatories. While detector networks such as LIGO-Virgo-Kagra or pulsar timing arrays can use cross-correlations to tell instrumental noise and SGWB apart, LISA is likely to be the only flying detector of its kind in 2035. This particularity poses a challenge for data analysis. To tackle it, we present a strategy based on Bayesian model selection. We use a flexible noise power spectral density~(PSD) model and the knowledge of noise and signal transfer functions to allow SGWBs detection when the noise PSD is unknown. With this technique, we then probe the parameter space accessible by LISA for power-law SGWB shapes.