Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-21-2013
Abstract
Using techniques from loop quantum gravity, the standard theory of cosmological perturbations was recently generalized to encompass the Planck era. We now apply this framework to explore pre-inflationary dynamics. The framework enables us to isolate and resolve the true trans-Planckian difficulties, with interesting lessons both for theory and observations. Specifically, for a large class of initial conditions at the bounce, we are led to a self consistent extension of the inflationary paradigm over the 11 orders of magnitude in density and curvature, from the big bounce to the onset of slow roll. In addition, for a narrow window of initial conditions, there are departures from the standard paradigm, with novel effects - such as a modification of the consistency relation between the ratio of the tensor to scalar power spectrum and the tensor spectral index, as well as a new source for non-Gaussianities - which could extend the reach of cosmological observations to the deep Planck regime of the early universe. © 2013 IOP Publishing Ltd.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Classical and Quantum Gravity
Recommended Citation
Agullo, I., Ashtekar, A., & Nelson, W. (2013). The pre-inflationary dynamics of loop quantum cosmology: Confronting quantum gravity with observations. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 30 (8) https://doi.org/10.1088/0264-9381/30/8/085014