On Signatures of Short Distance Physics in the Cosmic Microwave Background

TL;DR

This paper revisits the potential signatures of trans-Planckian physics in the cosmic microwave background, arguing that nonadiabatic effects during inflation could produce observable imprints contrary to previous pessimistic estimates.

Contribution

It challenges prior conclusions by showing that nonadiabatic evolution of fluctuations can lead to detectable trans-Planckian signatures in the CMB spectrum.

Findings

Nonadiabatic evolution can excite fluctuations at the Planck scale.

Trans-Planckian effects may leave observable imprints on CMB anisotropies.

Previous estimates of these effects were overly pessimistic.

Abstract

Following a self-contained review of the basics of the theory of cosmological perturbations, we discuss why the conclusions reached in the recent paper by Kaloper et al are too pessimistic estimates of the amplitude of possible imprints of trans-Planckian (string) physics on the spectrum of cosmic microwave anisotropies in an inflationary Universe. It is shown that the likely origin of large trans-Planckian effects on late time cosmological fluctuations comes from nonadiabatic evolution of the state of fluctuations while the wavelength is smaller than the Planck (string) scale, resulting in an excited state at the time that the wavelength crosses the Hubble radius during inflation.