Abstract
The simplest inflationary model represents the benchmark for future constraints. For a quadratic potential, the quantity vanishes (up to corrections which are cubic in slow roll) and can be used to parametrize small deviations from the minimal scenario. Future constraints on this quantity will be able to distinguish a quadratic potential from a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson with and set limits on the deviation from unity of the speed of sound (corresponding to an energy scale ) and on the contribution of a second field to perturbations (). The limiting factor for these bounds will be the uncertainty on the spectral index. The error on the number of e-folds will be , corresponding to an error on the reheating temperature . We comment on the relevance of non-Gaussianity after BICEP2 results.
- Received 14 April 2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.241303
© 2014 American Physical Society
Focus
Theorists Weigh in on BICEP2
Published 19 June 2014
Several theorists discuss the next steps for testing inflation theory following the BICEP2 observations of polarization in the cosmic microwave background.
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