How well do we understand the thermal history of the Universe? Implications of the recent BICEP2 data
arXiv:1403.6688 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.90.087301
Abstract
Applying Grand Unified Theories in the context of the early Universe, cosmic strings are an unavoidable partner of the inflaton field. To render such models compatible with the CMB temperature anisotropies, the inflationary scale has to be lower than the 2x10^{16} GeV value deduced from the tensor-to-scalar ratio announced from the BICEP2 collaboration. Some questions are consequently raised about our understanding of the thermal history of the Universe.
arXiv comment4 pages; Slightly modified version to match publication
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