Cosmological Perturbation Theory in Slow-Roll Spacetimes

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in slow-roll spacetimes, second-order perturbations have a greater impact on the gravitational field than linear fluctuations, using a gauge-invariant approach.

Contribution

It introduces a gauge-invariant method showing second-order perturbations dominate linear ones in slow-roll cosmological models.

Findings

Second-order perturbations dominate linear fluctuations in slow-roll spacetimes.

A gauge-invariant argument confirms the dominance of second-order effects.

Implications for understanding gravitational effects in early universe models.

Abstract

We present a gauge invariant argument that a nonlocal measure of second-order metric and matter perturbations dominate that of linear fluctuations in its effect on the gravitational field in 'slow-rolling' spacetimes.