Unveiling a multi-component stochastic gravitational-wave background with the TianQin + LISA network

Space-borne detectors, including TianQin and Laser Interferometry Space Antenna (LISA), are tasked with the simultaneous observation of Galactic foreground, astrophysical and cosmological stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds (SGWBs). For the first time, we employ a space-borne detector network to identify the multi-component SGWB. Specifically, we develop a tailored likelihood for cross-correlation detection with such networks. Combined with the likelihood, we use the simulated datasets of the TianQin + LISA network to conduct model selection and parameter estimation. Our results indicate that, after 4 years of operation, the network could detect a single SGWB from either astrophysical or cosmological origins, with an energy density Ωast/cos (10 mHz) on the order of 10⁻¹², despite the presence of a Galactic foreground. Furthermore, to distinguish the cosmological background from both a Galactic foreground and the expected astrophysical background, the energy density Ωcos should reach around 2× 10⁻¹¹.