Abstract Details

Name: Sriramkumar L.
Affiliation: Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
Conference ID: ASI2021_510
Title : Signatures of enhanced scalar power on small scales
Authors and Co-Authors : L. Sriramkumar, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036
Abstract Type : Invited
Abstract Category : General Relativity and Cosmology
Abstract : The primordial scalar power spectrum is well constrained on large scales, primarily by the observations of the anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background. However, the current bounds on the scalar power spectrum at small scales are considerably weaker. In this talk, I shall outline as to how a sharp rise in the scalar power on small scales leads to enhanced formation of primordial black holes and produces secondary gravitational waves of higher and, possibly, detectable amplitudes. I shall present the inflationary scenarios we have examined that can generate increased power on small scales. I shall also describe the inflationary scalar non-Gaussianities generated in such scenarios and discuss its implications for the strength of the secondary gravitational waves. Moreover, I shall illustrate the difficulty in generating enhanced power on small scales from squeezed initial states. Finally, I shall conclude with a brief summary and scope.