Simple fluid models for super-inflation in effective LQC and effects on the CMB B-modes

TL;DR

This paper models super-inflation in loop quantum cosmology using a fluid approach, deriving tensor perturbation spectra and discussing potential observable effects on CMB B-modes, which could distinguish it from standard inflation.

Contribution

It introduces a simple analytic fluid model for super-inflation in loop quantum cosmology and derives its tensor perturbation spectrum.

Findings

Tensor spectrum differs from standard inflation predictions.

Potential distinguishability of super-inflation effects in future CMB observations.

Analytic description simplifies understanding of super-inflation dynamics.

Abstract

Loop quantum cosmology allows to replace the original singularity by a quantum bounce followed by a phase of fast expansion called super-inflation. In this paper, we use a simple analytic description of super-inflation using the equation of state of a fluid. We then derive the power spectrum of tensor perturbations produced. The effects on the B-mode polarization of the cosmological background radiation are discussed. For a large region of phase space, the spectrum should be distinguishable from the standard inflationary prediction for future observations.