Scalar-tensor correlations and large-scale power suppression

Abstract

Recent measurements from the BICEP2 cosmic microwave background polarization experiment indicate the presence of primordial gravitational waves with surprisingly large amplitude. If these results are confirmed, they point to a discrepancy with temperature anisotropy power spectrum measurements and suggest that extensions to the standard cosmological model may be required to resolve the discrepancy. One intriguing extension is an anticorrelation between tensors and scalars to naturally suppress the temperature power. Here I examine this possibility and show that such a suppression is not possible in the presence of a general form of anticorrelation.

5 pages, references added, minor typos corrected; version published in Phys. Rev. D

References in corpus (4)

• Scalar-Scalar, Scalar-Tensor, and Tensor-Tensor Correlators from Anisotropic Inflation
• Did BICEP2 see vector modes? First B-mode constraints on cosmic defects
• Can topological defects mimic the BICEP2 B-mode signal?
• Can primordial magnetic fields be the origin of the BICEP2 data?

Cited by in corpus (9)

• Wiggly Whipped Inflation
• Suppressing the impact of a high tensor-to-scalar ratio on the temperature anisotropies
• Statistical Anisotropies in Gravitational Waves in Solid Inflation
• Primordial perturbations from dilaton-induced gauge fields
• Testing physical models for dipolar asymmetry with CMB polarization
• Hemispherical asymmetry from an isotropy violating stochastic gravitational wave background
• Scalar-Tensor Anti-Cross-Correlation does not Help to Reconcile the Tension between BICEP2 and Planck
• D-Flation
• Naturally large tensor-to-scalar ratio in inflation