Relic Vector Field and CMB Large Scale Anomalies

TL;DR

This paper explores how relic vector fields during inflation could explain large-scale anomalies in the CMB, such as alignments and power suppression, providing analytical tools for data comparison.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analysis of relic vector fields' effects on inflation and CMB anomalies, offering new explanations and analytical templates.

Findings

Relic vector fields can potentially explain CMB quadrupole-octopole alignment.

They may account for the quadrupole power suppression.

The effects are significant if inflation lasts close to the minimum needed.

Abstract

We study the most general effects of relic vector fields on the inflationary background and density perturbations. Such effects are observable if the number of inflationary e-folds is close to the minimum requirement to solve the horizon problem. We show that this can potentially explain two CMB large scale anomalies: the quadrupole-octopole alignment and the quadrupole power suppression. We discuss its effect on the parity anomaly. We also provide analytical template for more detailed data comparison.