Non-Bunch-Davies Anisotropy

TL;DR

This paper proposes a mechanism where non-Bunch-Davies quantum states extend relic anisotropy effects to smaller scales in density perturbations, providing a way to probe the universe's initial quantum state.

Contribution

It introduces a generic mechanism linking relic anisotropies to shorter scales via non-Bunch-Davies states, applicable to various anisotropy forms.

Findings

Mechanism extends relic anisotropies to smaller scales.

Non-oscillatory components reveal initial quantum states.

Example with relic vector field demonstrates the effect.

Abstract

We introduce a generic mechanism that can extend the effects of relic anisotropies at the beginning of inflation to relatively much shorter scales in density perturbations. This is induced by non-Bunch-Davies states of the quantum fluctuations, and can show up in the non-oscillatory components of the density perturbations. This mechanism works for general forms of anisotropies, and, to illustrate it, we use an example of relic vector field. The detailed scale-dependence of these anisotropies can be used to probe the initial quantum state of our universe.