A signature of quantum gravity at the source of the seeds of cosmic structure?

TL;DR

This paper critiques standard inflationary models for cosmic structure origin, proposing a quantum gravity-inspired wave function collapse mechanism to better explain the emergence of inhomogeneity and anisotropy.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach based on Penrose's ideas, addressing the symmetry-breaking issue in the quantum origin of cosmic structures.

Findings

Highlights shortcomings of standard models

Proposes a quantum gravity-induced collapse mechanism

Suggests a new pathway for understanding cosmic inhomogeneities

Abstract

This article reviews a recent work by a couple of colleagues and myself about the shortcomings of the standard explanations of the quantum origin of cosmic structure in the inflationary scenario, and a proposal to address them. The point it that in the usual accounts the inhomogeneity and anisotropy of our universe seem to emerge from an exactly homogeneous and isotropic initial state through processes that do not break those symmetries. We argued that some novel aspect of physics must be called upon to able to address the problem in a fully satisfactory way. The proposed approach is inspired on Penrose's ideas regarding an quantum gravity induced, real and dynamical collapse of the wave function.