Beyond Gaussianity in Gravitational-Wave Data: Deciphering the Symphony of Black Holes and the Early Universe

Future gravitational-wave observations must separate possible primordial signals from overlapping backgrounds generated by astrophysical populations. This seminar reviews massive-black-hole background predictions and the challenge of distinguishing early-universe contributions. Wavelet scattering transforms are explored as a way to use non-Gaussian information beyond standard statistics, with their mathematical and physical interpretation explained.