Stochastic gravitational wave background constraints from Gaia DR3 astrometry

Abstract

Astrometric surveys can be used to constrain the stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB) at very low frequencies. We use proper motion data provided by Gaia DR3 to fit a generic dipole+quadrupole field. We analyse several quasar-based data sets and discuss their purity and idoneity to set constraints on gravitational waves. For the cleanest data set, we derive an upper bound on the (frequency-integrated) energy density of the SGWB $h_{70}^2\Omega _{\rm GW}\lesssim 0.087$ for 4.2 × 10^-18 Hz ≲ f ≲ 1.1 × 10^-8 Hz. We also reanalyse previous VLBI-based data to set the constraint $h_{70}^2\Omega _{\rm GW}\lesssim 0.024$ for 5.8 × 10^-18 Hz ≲ f ≲ 1.4 × 10^-9 Hz under the same formalism, standing as the best astrometric constraint on GWs. Based on our results, we discuss the potential of future Gaia data releases to impose tighter constraints.