Latest inflation model constraints from cosmic microwave background measurements

Abstract

In this addendum to Phys.Rev. D74 (2006) 023502, we present an update of cosmological constraints on single-field inflation in light of the Wilkinson Microwave Ansiotropy Probe satellite mission five-year results (WMAP5). We find that the cosmic microwave background data are quite consistent with a Harrison-Zel'dovich primordial spectrum with no running and zero tensor amplitude. We find that the three main conclusions of our analysis of the WMAP three-year data (WMAP3) are consistent with the WMAP5 data: (1) the Harrison--Zel'dovich model is within the 95% confidence level contours; (2) there is no evidence for running of the spectral index of scalar perturbations; (3) From the WMAP 5 data alone, potentials of the form $V\propto {\varphi }^p$ are consistent with the data for $p=2$, and are ruled out for $p=4$. Furthermore, consistent with our WMAP3 analysis, we find no evidence for primordial tensor perturbations, this time with a 95% confidence upper limit of $r<0.4$ for the WMAP5 data alone, and $r<0.35$ for the WMAP5 data taken in combination with the Arcminute Cosmology Bolometer Array (ACBAR).

8 pages, 4 figures. V2: matches version accepted by PRD

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