Observational constraints on loop quantum cosmology

TL;DR

This paper derives analytic formulas for scalar and tensor power spectra in loop quantum cosmology with inverse-volume corrections, enabling observational constraints on quantum effects using recent cosmological data.

Contribution

It provides the first analytic expressions for power spectra including higher-order runnings in loop quantum cosmology, facilitating comparison with observations.

Findings

Bounds on quantum corrections from CMB data

Inverse-volume corrections significantly affect spectral runnings

Analytic formulas enable better observational tests

Abstract

In the inflationary scenario of loop quantum cosmology in the presence of inverse-volume corrections, we give analytic formulas for the power spectra of scalar and tensor perturbations convenient to compare with observations. Since inverse-volume corrections can provide strong contributions to the running spectral indices, inclusion of terms higher than the second-order runnings in the power spectra is crucially important. Using the recent data of cosmic microwave background and other cosmological experiments, we place bounds on the quantum corrections.