Short distance physics and the consistency relation for scalar and tensor fluctuations in the inflationary universe

2001/09/30 by Lam Hui, William H. Kinney · 5 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Consistency (knowledge bases) #Cosmology #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Dark energy #Inflationary epoch #Mathematics #Metric expansion of space #Observable #Physics #Quantum #Quantum fluctuation #Quantum mechanics #Scalar (mathematics) #Spectral index #Spectral line #Tensor (intrinsic definition) #Theoretical physics #Universe #Vacuum state #astro-ph #hep-ph #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.65.103507

published as Phys.Rev. D65 (2002) 103507 · 5 pages, matches published version

openalex publication_date 2002/04/29 · arxiv created 2002/05/30 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Recent discussions suggest the possibility that short distance physics can significantly modify the behavior of quantum fluctuations in the inflationary universe, and alter the standard large scale structure predictions. Such modifications can be viewed as due to a different choice of the vacuum state. We show that such changes generally lead to violations of the well-known consistency relation between the scalar to tensor ratio and the tensor spectral index. Vacuum effects can introduce an observable modulation to the usual predictions for the scalar and tensor power spectra.

Citations

• A new inflationary universe scenario: A possible solution of the horizon, flatness, homogeneity, isotropy and primordial monopole problems
• Trans-Planckian dispersion and scale invariance of inflationary perturbations
• The development of irregularities in a single bubble inflationary universe
• Cosmology for Grand Unified Theories with Radiatively Induced Symmetry Breaking
• Signature of Gravity Waves in the Polarization of the Microwave Background
• Dynamics of phase transition in the new inflationary universe scenario and generation of perturbations
• A General Analytic Formula for the Spectral Index of the Density Perturbations produced during Inflation
• Spontaneous creation of almost scale-free density perturbations in an inflationary universe
• Quantum field theory in de Sitter space: renormalization by point-splitting
• Fluctuations in the New Inflationary Universe
• Trans-Planckian problem of inflationary cosmology

Cited by

• Single-field inflation à la generalized Chaplygin gas
• Note on inflation and trans-Planckian physics
• Cosmological backgrounds of gravitational waves
• Exploring the superimposed oscillations parameter space
• Imprints of short distance physics on inflationary cosmology