Revising the observable consequences of slow-roll inflation

Iván Agulló, José Navarro-Salas, Gonzalo J. Olmo, and Leonard Parker
Phys. Rev. D 81, 043514 – Published 4 February 2010

Abstract

We study the generation of primordial perturbations in a (single-field) slow-roll inflationary Universe. In momentum space, these (Gaussian) perturbations are characterized by a zero mean and a nonzero variance Δ2(k,t). However, in position space the variance diverges in the ultraviolet. The requirement of a finite variance in position space forces one to regularize Δ2(k,t). This can (and should) be achieved by proper renormalization in an expanding Universe in a unique way. This affects the predicted scalar and tensorial power spectra (evaluated when the modes acquire classical properties) for wavelengths that today are at observable scales. As a consequence, the imprint of slow-roll inflation on the cosmic microwave background anisotropies is significantly altered. We find a nontrivial change in the consistency condition that relates the tensor-to-scalar ratio r to the spectral indices. For instance, an exact scale-invariant tensorial power spectrum, nt=0, is now compatible with a nonzero ratio r0.12±0.06, which is forbidden by the standard prediction (r=8nt). The influence of relic gravitational waves on the cosmic microwave background may soon come within the range of planned measurements, offering a nontrivial test of the new predictions.

  • Received 18 November 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.81.043514

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Iván Agulló1,*, José Navarro-Salas2,†, Gonzalo J. Olmo3,1,2,‡, and Leonard Parker1,§

  • 1Physics Department, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, USA
  • 2Departamento de Física Teórica and IFIC, Centro Mixto Universidad de Valencia-CSIC. Facultad de Física, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot-46100, Valencia, Spain
  • 3Instituto de Estructura de la Materia, CSIC, Serrano 121, 28006 Madrid, Spain

  • *ivan.agullo@uv.es
  • jnavarro@ific.uv.es
  • olmo@iem.cfmac.csic.es
  • §leonard@uwm.edu

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Vol. 81, Iss. 4 — 15 February 2010

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