Cosmological Perturbations of Quantum Mechanical Origin and Anisotropy of the Microwave Background Radiation

TL;DR

This paper explores the quantum-mechanical origins of cosmological perturbations, concluding that large-scale anisotropies in the microwave background are most likely due to gravitational waves rather than density or rotational perturbations.

Contribution

It clarifies the nature of quantum-generated cosmological perturbations, emphasizing gravitational waves as the primary source of large-scale microwave background anisotropy.

Findings

Large-angular-scale anisotropy likely caused by gravitational waves

Quantum-mechanical perturbations can produce observable cosmological effects

Clarifies previous disagreements in the literature

Abstract

A theory of quantum-mechanical generation of cosmological perturbations is considered. The conclusion of this study is that if the large-angular-scale anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background radiation is caused by the long-wavelength cosmological perturbations of quantum mechanical origin, they are, most likely, gravitational waves, rather than density perturbations or rotational perturbations. Some disagreements with previous publications are clarified. This contribution to the Proceedings is based on Reference~[34].