Could pulsar timing arrays see primordial gravity waves?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 1K views
windy miller
Messages
306
Reaction score
28
Im wondering if pulsar arrays could see primordial gravity waves?
I have understood the only way to seem them would be to
a) via indirect imprint on CMB polarisation
b) direct viewing via some gigantic space based interferometer like Big Bang Observer
However I was looking at this image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe..._astrophysical_gravitational-wave_sources.png
and it seems to imply pulsar timing array projects like EPTA and IPTa might have a shot at it. Have I misunderstood this or is this a genuine possibility?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
It's potentially possible, but nobody yet knows what the level of primordial gravity waves is. They could be a lot smaller than would be required to detect them this way.