Relic Gravitational Waves and Limits on Inflation

TL;DR

This paper examines the constraints on inflationary models imposed by cosmic microwave background anisotropy data, highlighting that only a narrow class with specific equations of state are compatible, including the De-Sitter case.

Contribution

It identifies the specific range of effective equations of state for inflationary models consistent with observational data on CMBR anisotropy.

Findings

Only models with -1.2 < p/ε < -0.6 fit the data.

De-Sitter inflation (p/ε = -1) is included in the compatible models.

Most inflationary models are inconsistent with current CMBR anisotropy observations.

Abstract

It is shown that only a narrow class of inflationary models can possibly agree with the available observational data on the anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR). These models may be governed by ``matter'' with the effective equation of state $-1.2 <p/ \epsilon < -0.6$ which includes the De-Sitter case $p/ \epsilon = -1$.