Observational constraints on the energy scale of inflation

TL;DR

This paper combines observational data to constrain the inflation energy scale, providing an upper limit and forecasting future improvements with Planck data.

Contribution

It offers the first combined observational constraint on the inflation energy scale and forecasts the potential of Planck data to refine these constraints.

Findings

Upper limit on inflation energy scale: 2.3 x 10^{16} GeV at 95% CL

Planck can significantly improve constraints on inflation parameters

Forecasts show potential for better understanding of inflaton potential shape

Abstract

Determining the energy scale of inflation is crucial to understand the nature of inflation in the early Universe. We place observational constraints on the energy scale of the observable part of the inflaton potential by combining the 7-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe data with distance measurements from the baryon acoustic oscillations in the distribution of galaxies and the Hubble constant measurement. Our analysis provides an upper limit on this energy scale, 2.3 \times 10^{16} GeV at 95% confidence level. Moreover, we forecast the sensitivity and constraints achievable by the Planck experiment by performing Monte Carlo studies on simulated data. Planck could significantly improve the constraints on the energy scale of inflation and on the shape of the inflaton potential.