Boundary Effective Field Theory and Trans-Planckian Perturbations: Astrophysical Implications

Abstract

We contrast two approaches to calculating trans-Planckian corrections to the inflationary perturbation spectrum: the New Physics Hypersurface [NPH] model, in which modes are normalized when their physical wavelength first exceeds a critical value, and the Boundary Effective Field Theory [BEFT] approach, where the initial conditions for all modes are set at the same time, and modified by higher dimensional operators enumerated via an effective field theory calculation. We show that these two approaches -- as currently implemented -- lead to radically different expectations for the trans-Planckian corrections to the CMB and emphasize that in the BEFT formalism we expect the perturbation spectrum to be dominated by quantum gravity corrections for all scales shorter than some critical value. Conversely, in the NPH case the quantum effects only dominate the longest modes that are typically much larger than the present horizon size. Furthermore, the onset of the breakdown in the standard inflationary perturbation calculation predicted by the BEFT formalism is likely to be associated with a feature in the perturbation spectrum, and we discuss the observational signatures of this feature in both CMB and large scale structure observations. Finally, we discuss possible modifications to both calculational frameworks that would resolve the contradictions identified here.

Reworded commentary, reference added (v2) References added (v3)

References in corpus (2)

• Decoupling in an expanding universe: backreaction barely constrains short distance effects in the CMB
• The cosmological vacuum ambiguity, effective actions, and transplanckian effects in inflation

Cited by in corpus (41)

• Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) Three Year Results: Implications for Cosmology
• Generation and Characterization of Large Non-Gaussianities in Single Field Inflation
• Enhanced Non-Gaussianity from Excited Initial States
• Features and New Physical Scales in Primordial Observables: Theory and Observation
• On the one loop corrections to inflation and the CMB anisotropies
• Scale-dependent bias of galaxies and mu-type distortion of the cosmic microwave background spectrum from single-field inflation with a modified initial state
• Comparing Infrared Dirac-Born-Infeld Brane Inflation to Observations
• Stringy Effects During Inflation and Reheating
• Inflation with General Initial Conditions for Scalar Perturbations
• Anomalous parity asymmetry of WMAP power spectrum data at low multpoles: is it cosmological or systematics?
• Reconstruction of the primordial power spectrum of curvature perturbations using multiple data sets
• Bispectrum signatures of a modified vacuum in single field inflation with a small speed of sound
• Spacetime could be simultaneously continuous and discrete in the same way that information can
• Model Independent Signatures of New Physics in the Inflationary Power Spectrum
• Trans-Planckian wimpzillas
• WMAP 7 Constraints on Oscillations in the Primordial Power Spectrum
• Universal Correction to the Inflationary Vacuum
• Oscillations in the Primordial Bispectrum: Mode Expansion
• Pre-slow roll initial conditions: large scale power suppression and infrared aspects during inflation
• Planck residuals anomaly as a fingerprint of alternative scenarios to inflation
• Boundary Inflation and the WMAP Data
• Lensing anomaly and oscillations in the primordial power spectrum
• The renormalization of the energy-momentum tensor for an effective initial state
• Tensor to scalar ratio and large scale power suppression from pre-slow roll initial conditions
• Angular Correlation Functions for Models with Logarithmic Oscillations
• Modified dispersion relations and the response of the rotating Unruh-DeWitt detector
• Primordial Power Spectrum features and $f_{NL}$ constraints
• Natural Covariant Planck Scale Cutoffs and the Cosmic Microwave Background Spectrum
• A fully covariant information-theoretic ultraviolet cutoff for scalar fields in expanding FRW spacetimes
• Symmetry and anti-symmetry of the CMB anisotropy pattern
• Gauge-invariant perturbation theory for trans-Planckian inflation
• Trans-Planckian enhancements of the primordial non-Gaussianities
• Path integral duality and Planck scale corrections to the primordial spectrum in exponential inflation
• Short Distance Physics and Initial State Effects on the CMB Power Spectrum
• Rapid numerical solutions for the Mukhanov-Sasaki equation
• Trans-Planckian signals from the breaking of local Lorentz invariance
• The primordial "f_NL" non-Gaussianity, and perturbations beyond the present horizon
• Enhanced spectrum of primordial perturbations, galaxy formation and small scale structure
• Inflation with a stringy minimal length, reworked
• Limits on Semiclassical Fluctuations in the Primordial Universe
• Covariant Predictions for Planck-Scale Features in Primordial Power Spectra