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.
On the Dependence of the Spectra of Fluctuations in Inflationary Cosmology on Trans-Planckian Physics
2 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
We calculate the power spectrum of metric fluctuations in inflationary cosmology starting with initial conditions which are imposed mode by mode when the wavelength equals some critical length $\ell_{_{\rm C}}$ corresponding to a new energy scale $M_{_{\rm C}}$ at which trans-Planckian physics becomes important. In this case, the power spectrum can differ from what is calculated in the usual framework (which amounts to choosing the adiabatic vacuum state). The fractional difference in the results depends on the ratio $\sigma_0$ between the Hubble expansion rate $H_{\rm inf}$ during inflation and the new energy scale $M_{_{\rm C}}$. We show how and why different choices of the initial vacuum state (stemming from different assumptions about trans-Planckian physics) lead to fractional differences which depend on different powers of $\sigma_0$. As we emphasize, the power in general also depends on whether one is calculating the power spectrum of density fluctuations or of gravitational waves.
fields
astro-ph.CO 2years
2026 2representative citing papers
Non-parametric knot-based reconstruction of the primordial power spectrum P_R(k) from BOSS+eBOSS data up to k=0.3 h/Mpc favors a quasi-scale-invariant power law and constrains n_s = 0.976 ± 0.021 with no evidence for primordial features.
citing papers explorer
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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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Primordial power spectrum reconstructions from BOSS + eBOSS
Non-parametric knot-based reconstruction of the primordial power spectrum P_R(k) from BOSS+eBOSS data up to k=0.3 h/Mpc favors a quasi-scale-invariant power law and constrains n_s = 0.976 ± 0.021 with no evidence for primordial features.