Improving the Single Scalar Consistency Relation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new test for single-scalar inflation models by reconstructing the tensor power spectrum from the scalar spectrum, effective even with limited tensor data, and applicable to future high-quality measurements.

Contribution

It presents an integrated consistency test for single-scalar inflation that works with poorly measured tensor spectra and can be applied to future precise data.

Findings

Test effectively reconstructs tensor spectrum from scalar data.

Applicable even when tensor spectral index is unresolved.

Demonstrated with simulated data for r=0.01.

Abstract

We propose a test of single-scalar inflation based on using the well-measured scalar power spectrum to reconstruct the tensor power spectrum, up to a single integration constant. Our test is a sort of integrated version of the single-scalar consistency relation. This sort of test can be used effectively, even when the tensor power spectrum is measured too poorly to resolve the tensor spectral index. We give an example using simulated data based on a hypothetical detection with tensor-to-scalar ratio $r = 0.01$. Our test can also be employed for correlating scalar and tensor features in the far future when the data is good.