What Would We Learn by Detecting a Gravitational Wave Signal in the Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy?

David H. Lyth
Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 1861 – Published 10 March 1997
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Abstract

Inflation generates gravitational waves, which may be observable in the low multipoles of the cosmic microwave background anisotropy but only if the inflaton field variation is at least of order the Planck scale. Such a large variation would imply that the model of inflation cannot be part of an ordinary extension of the standard model, and combined with the detection of the waves it would also suggest that the inflaton field cannot be one of the superstring moduli. Another implication of observable gravitational waves would be a potential V1/4=2 to 4×1016GeV, which is orders of magnitude bigger than the prediction of most models.

  • Received 20 June 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.1861

©1997 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

David H. Lyth

  • School of Physics and Chemistry, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, United Kingdom

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Vol. 78, Iss. 10 — 10 March 1997

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