Constraints on the Primordial Curvature Power Spectrum by Pulsar Timing Array Data: A Polynomial Parameterization Approach

Abstract

The recent stochastic signal observed jointly by NANOGrav, PPTA, EPTA, and CPTA can be accounted for by scalar-induced gravitational waves (SIGWs). The source of the SIGWs is from the primordial curvature perturbations, and the main contribution to the SIGWs is from the peak of the primordial curvature power spectrum. To effectively model this peak, we apply the Taylor expansion to parameterize it. With the Taylor expansion parameterization, we apply Bayesian methods to constrain the primordial curvature power spectrum based on the NANOGrav 15-year data set. The constraint on the primordial curvature power spectrum possesses a degree of generality, as the Taylor expansion can effectively approximate a wide range of function profiles.