BOSS + eBOSS galaxy clustering favors a featureless, quasi-scale-invariant primordial spectrum, with a reconstructed spectral index n_s = 0.976 ± 0.021.
Inflation and WMAP three year data: Features have a Future!
5 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
The new three year WMAP data seem to confirm the presence of non-standard large scale features in the Cosmic Microwave Anisotropies power spectrum. While these features may hint at uncorrected experimental systematics, it is also possible to generate, in a cosmological way, oscillations on large angular scales by introducing a sharp step in the inflaton potential. Using current cosmological data, we derive constraints on the position, magnitude and gradient of a possible step. We show that a step in the inflaton potential, while strongly constrained by current data, is still allowed and may provide an interesting explanation to the currently measured deviations from the standard featureless spectrum. Moreover, we show that inflationary oscillations in the primordial power spectrum can significantly bias parameter estimates from standard ruler methods involving measurements of baryon oscillations.
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Joint power spectrum and bispectrum analysis from future HI intensity mapping surveys improves constraints on primordial feature amplitudes by 30-40% and achieves percent-level precision on oscillation frequencies when combined with CMB measurements.
Finite recombination thickness introduces Gaussian smoothing in ln k to the primordial power spectrum, producing non-trivial differences between TT and EE spectral indices that may be detectable in future CMB data.
Systematic re-analysis of Planck PR3 and PR4 CMB datasets finds local fit improvements of up to Δχ² ≈ -15 for certain oscillatory templates but no global significance above 2.6σ after look-elsewhere correction and Bayesian penalties.
A review thesis covering Mukhanov parametrization, general scalar-tensor theories, and new slow-roll techniques for canonical and noncanonical inflation observables.
citing papers explorer
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Primordial power spectrum reconstructions from BOSS + eBOSS
BOSS + eBOSS galaxy clustering favors a featureless, quasi-scale-invariant primordial spectrum, with a reconstructed spectral index n_s = 0.976 ± 0.021.
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Searching for primordial features with radio surveys: synergy between the power spectrum and bispectrum
Joint power spectrum and bispectrum analysis from future HI intensity mapping surveys improves constraints on primordial feature amplitudes by 30-40% and achieves percent-level precision on oscillation frequencies when combined with CMB measurements.
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Recombination Thickness as an Uncertainty in Inflationary Observables
Finite recombination thickness introduces Gaussian smoothing in ln k to the primordial power spectrum, producing non-trivial differences between TT and EE spectral indices that may be detectable in future CMB data.
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Signals from the early Universe: a comprehensive search for primordial features in Planck CMB datasets
Systematic re-analysis of Planck PR3 and PR4 CMB datasets finds local fit improvements of up to Δχ² ≈ -15 for certain oscillatory templates but no global significance above 2.6σ after look-elsewhere correction and Bayesian penalties.
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Noncanonical Approaches To Inflation
A review thesis covering Mukhanov parametrization, general scalar-tensor theories, and new slow-roll techniques for canonical and noncanonical inflation observables.