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Reconstructing the Inflaton Potential --- an Overview

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arxiv astro-ph/9508078 v3 pith:CKHOC4OD submitted 1995-08-17 astro-ph gr-qchep-ph

classification astro-phgr-qchep-ph
keywords potentialconsistencyinflationaryobservationsspectraexpansioninflatoninformation
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We review the relation between the inflationary potential and the spectra of density (scalar) perturbations and gravitational waves (tensor perturbations) produced, with particular emphasis on the possibility of reconstructing the inflaton potential from observations. The spectra provide a potentially powerful test of the inflationary hypothesis; they are not independent but instead are linked by consistency relations reflecting their origin from a single inflationary potential. To lowest-order in a perturbation expansion there is a single, now familiar, relation between the tensor spectral index and the relative amplitude of the spectra. We demonstrate that there is an infinite hierarchy of such consistency equations, though observational difficulties suggest only the first is ever likely to be useful. We also note that since observations are expected to yield much better information on the scalars than on the tensors, it is likely to be the next-order version of this consistency equation which will be appropriate, not the lowest-order one. If inflation passes the consistency test, one can then confidently use the remaining observational information to constrain the inflationary potential, and we survey the general perturbative scheme for carrying out this procedure. Explicit expressions valid to next-lowest order in the expansion are presented. We then briefly assess the prospects for future observations reaching the quality required, and consider a simulated data set that is motivated by this outlook.

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Forward citations

Cited by 7 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score. Full citation record

  1. From Primordial Black Holes Abundance to Primordial Curvature Power Spectrum (and back)

    astro-ph.CO 2019-08 conditional novelty 7.0 of 10

    Using numerical relativity thresholds, cosmological perturbation theory, and peak theory, the authors derive updated upper limits on the small-scale primordial curvature power spectrum from primordial black hole abund...

  2. Primordial Gravitational Waves in Quadratic Gravity

    gr-qc 2025-02 unverdicted novelty 6.0 of 10

    In quadratic gravity, the inflationary tensor power spectrum is suppressed by (1 + 2H_*^2/m_gh^2)^{-1}, which restores the standard consistency relation r = -8n_t.

  3. Precision Inflationary Predictions: Impact of Accurate End-of-Inflation Dynamics

    astro-ph.CO 2024-07 unverdicted novelty 6.0 of 10

    Improved end-of-inflation dynamics shift the Starobinsky model's predicted spectral index n_s by up to 1.2×10^{-3} within the allowed reheating range.

  4. Observing Cosmic Reheating with the expanded Simons Observatory

    astro-ph.CO 2026-06 unverdicted novelty 4.0 of 10

    Expanded Simons Observatory could measure reheating temperature and inflaton-gluon coupling to a few percent in QCD-driven warm inflation if r=0.01 primordial gravitational waves are found.

  5. Hamilton-Jacobi Approach to Inflationary Scenarios through Extended Entropies: An Observational Perspective

    astro-ph.CO 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 4.0 of 10

    Hamilton-Jacobi analysis of slow-roll inflation with non-Bekenstein-Hawking entropies yields fitted entropy parameters (δ≈1.1-1.2, α∼10^{-14}, K∼10^{-17}) consistent with ns and r data.

  6. Sub-Horizon Amplification of Curvature Perturbations: A New Route to Primordial Black Holes and Gravitational Waves

    astro-ph.CO 2025-04 conditional novelty 4.0 of 10

    Any negative value of the second slow-roll parameter can amplify the scalar power spectrum through sub-horizon growth, so the usual ultra-slow-roll requirement of epsilon2 <= -6 is not necessary.

  7. The Scale Factor Potential Approach to Inflation

    gr-qc 2019-09 reject novelty 3.0 of 10

    The paper reparametrizes slow-roll inflation through a scale factor potential and constructs an example potential, but the chosen 60 e-fold branch is inconsistent with its own first-minimum end condition.

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