Bayesian Analysis of Inflation II: Model Selection and Constraints on Reheating

Details Bayesian Analysis of Inflation II: Model Selection and Constraints on Reheating Bayesian Analysis of Inflation II: Model Selection and Constraints on Reheating

2011-12-01

arxiv.org/abs/1112.0326v3

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics

ModeCode package available from http://zuserver2.star.ucl.ac.uk/~hiranya/ModeCode/ModeCode (requires CosmoMC and MultiNest);

Scientific paper

We discuss the model selection problem for inflationary cosmology. We couple ModeCode, a publicly-available numerical solver for the primordial perturbation spectra, to the nested sampler MultiNest, in order to efficiently compute Bayesian evidence. Particular attention is paid to the specification of physically realistic priors, including the parametrization of the post-inflationary expansion and associated thermalization scale. It is confirmed that while present-day data tightly constrains the properties of the power spectrum, it cannot usefully distinguish between the members of a large class of simple inflationary models. We also compute evidence using a simulated Planck likelihood, showing that while Planck will have more power than WMAP to discriminate between inflationary models, it will not definitively address the inflationary model selection problem on its own. However, Planck will place very tight constraints on any model with more than one observationally-distinct inflationary regime -- e.g. the large- and small-field limits of the hilltop inflation model -- and put useful limits on different reheating scenarios for a given model.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Bayesian Analysis of Inflation II: Model Selection and Constraints on Reheating does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Bayesian Analysis of Inflation II: Model Selection and Constraints on Reheating, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bayesian Analysis of Inflation II: Model Selection and Constraints on Reheating will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-139392