If the energy momentum tensor contains bulk viscous stresses violating the dominant energy condition (DEC), the energy spectra of the relic gravitons (produced at the time of the DEC’s violation) increase in frequency in a calculable way. In a general relativistic context, we give examples where the DEC is only violated for a limited amount of time after which the ordinary (radiation dominated) evolution takes place. We connect our discussion to some recent remarks of Grishchuk concerning the detectability of the stochastic gravitational wave background by the forthcoming interferometric detectors.

• Received 22 February 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.59.121301