# CMB and density fluctuations from strings plus inflation

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## Abstract

In cosmological models where local cosmic strings are formed at the end of a period of inflation, the perturbations are seeded both by the defects and by the quantum fluctuations. In a subset of these models, for example those based on $`D`$-term inflation, the amplitudes are similar. Using our recent calculations of structure formation with cosmic strings, we point out that in a flat cosmology with zero cosmological constant and 5% baryonic component, strings plus inflation fits the observational data much better than each component individually. The large-angle CMB spectrum is mildly tilted, for Harrison-Zeldovich inflationary fluctuations. It then rises to a thick Doppler bump, covering $`\mathrm{}=200600`$, modulated by soft secondary undulations. The standard CDM anti-biasing problem is cured, giving place to a slightly biased scenario of galaxy formation.

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The combination of recent data from cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations and large scale structure (LSS) surveys is proving a strong discriminant amongst cosmologies. The standard cold dark matter (sCDM) inflationary model , dominant for so long, is now disfavoured as it predicts too high an amplitude for the CDM power spectrum at scales below about 30 $`h^1`$ Mpc . Cosmic strings and other topological defects , after resisting theoretical attack, have also failed the tests in the standard cosmology of $`\mathrm{\Omega }=1`$, $`\mathrm{\Omega }_\mathrm{\Lambda }=0`$, $`\mathrm{\Omega }_b=0.05`$ and $`H_0=50`$ km s<sup>-1</sup> Mpc<sup>-1</sup>, as they cannot produce the required power on large scales . Other cosmological parameters have been investigated in both inflationary  and defect  models, with the result that a cosmological constant improves matters in both scenarios. The recent Type 1a Supernova data  supports this move away from an Einstein-de Sitter Universe.

However, the failings of the inflationary and defect sCDM models are to a certain extent complementary, and an obvious question is whether they can help each other to improve the fit to CMB and LSS data. Using our recent calculations for local cosmic strings  and the by now familiar inflationary calculations , we are able to demonstrate that the answer is yes. Even with Harrison-Zeldovich initial conditions and no inflation produced gravitational waves, the large-angle CMB spectrum is mildly tilted, as preferred by COBE data . The CMB spectrum then rises into a thick Doppler bump, covering the region $`\mathrm{}=200600`$, modulated by soft secondary undulations. More importantly the standard CDM anti-biasing problem is cured, giving place to a slightly biased scenario of galaxy formation.

It may seem baroque to invoke both inflation and strings to explain the cosmological perturbations. However, there is a very attractive inflationary model, namely $`D`$-term inflation , which necessarily produces strings, and in which the perturbation amplitudes are of similar amplitude  (see also  for a review). $`D`$-term inflation requires the existence of an extra gauged U(1) symmetry, which is broken at the end of inflation, thereby resulting in the formation of a network of cosmic strings. If the symmetry is not anomalous, the strings will be local, otherwise they are global . The inflaton corresponds to a flat direction in the potential, where the energy density is set by the U(1) symmetry-breaking scale. Radiative corrections lift the flatness and force the fields eventually to the U(1)-breaking supersymmetric minimum. A big attraction of the model is its naturalness in the technical sense: the flat direction is present as a result of symmetry, and the model avoids having to fine-tune any coupling constants.

The strings appear as a result of the breaking of the U(1) symmetry, although the details of the process are far from certain. It may be that the evolution of the homogeneous inflaton causes the U(1)-symmetric point in the potential to become unstable , or there may also be a non-thermal phase transition after inflation ends, during a “preheating” phase . However, subject to the condition that the fields making the strings are uncorrelated at large distances, the subsequent evolution of the string network is thought to be independent of the formation process .

The ensuing structure formation scenario is highly exotic, and worth studing just by itself. Regarded in abstract, structure formation may be due to two types of mechanism: active and passive perturbations. Passive fluctuations are due to an apparently acausal imprint in the initial conditions of the standard cosmic ingredients, which are then left to evolve by themselves. Active perturbations are due to an extra cosmic component, which evolves causally (and often non-linearly), and drives perturbations in the standard cosmic ingredients at all times. Inflationary fluctuations are passive. Defects are the quintessential active fluctuation.

A scenario combining active and passive perturbation would bypass most of the current wisdom on what to expect in either scenario. It is believed that the presence or absence of secondary Doppler peaks in the CMB power spectrum tests the very fundamental nature of inflation, whatever its guise . In the mixed scenarios we shall consider inflationary scenarios could produce spectra with any degree of secondary oscillation softening.

We shall now recap some of the main features of the $`D`$-term inflation model in which the strings plus inflation scenario finds an attractive expression. To begin with, we define the reduced Planck mass $`M=1/\sqrt{8\pi G}`$. We recall that a supergravity theory is defined by two functions of the chiral superfields $`\mathrm{\Phi }_i`$: the function $`G(\overline{\mathrm{\Phi }},\mathrm{\Phi })`$, which is related to the Kähler potential $`K(\overline{\mathrm{\Phi }},\mathrm{\Phi })`$ and the superpotential $`W(\mathrm{\Phi })`$ by $`G=K+M^2\mathrm{ln}|W|^2/M^6`$, and the gauge kinetic function $`f_{AB}(\overline{\mathrm{\Phi }},\mathrm{\Phi })`$. The scalar potential $`V`$ is composed of two terms, the $`F`$-term

$$V_F=M^2e^{G/M^2}\left(G_i(G^1)_j^iG^j3M^2\right)$$
(1)   
and the $`D`$-term

$$V_D=\frac{1}{2}g^2\mathrm{Re}f_{AB}^1D^AD^B$$
(2)   
where $`g`$ is the U(1) gauge coupling, $`G^i=G/\mathrm{\Phi }_i`$, and $`G_i=G/\overline{\mathrm{\Phi }}^i`$. The function $`D^A`$ i given by

$`D^A`$ $`=`$ $`G^i(T^A)_i^j\varphi _j+\xi ^A,`$ (3)   
where the Fayet-Iliopoulos terms $`\xi ^A`$, which we take to be positive, can be non-zero only for those $`(T^A)_i^j`$ which are U(1) generators. We see that in order to have a positive potential energy density, either the $`F`$ term or the $`D`$ term must be non-zero. In order to have inflation, there must be a region in field space where the slow-roll conditions $`ϵ\frac{1}{2}M^2|V^i/V|^21`$ and $`|\eta ||\mathrm{min}\mathrm{e}igM^2V_j^i/V|1`$ are satisfied, where by the notation in the second condition we mean that the smallest eigenvalue of the matrix is much less than unity. In $`D`$-term inflation, the conditions are satisfied because the fields move along a trajectory for which $`\mathrm{exp}(G/M^2)`$, $`G^i`$ and $`G^i(T^A)_i^j\varphi _j`$ all vanish, leaving a tree-level potential energy density of $`g^2\xi ^A\xi ^A/2`$. Thus the potential is completely flat before radiative corrections are taken into account. At the end of inflation, if the fields are to relax to the supersymmetric minimum with $`D^A+\xi ^A=0`$, the U(1) gauge symmetries are necessarily broken, assuming their corresponding Fayet-Iliopoulos terms are non-zero. Thus strings are inevitable: the only question is how much inflation there is before the fields attain the minimum.

The simplest model  has three chiral fields, $`S`$, $`\mathrm{\Phi }_+`$ and $`\mathrm{\Phi }_{}`$, which have charges 0, 1 and -1 under an extra U(1)<sub>X</sub> symmetry. If one imposes an $`R`$-symmetry, the only possible superpotential is $`W=\lambda S\mathrm{\Phi }_+\mathrm{\Phi }_{},`$ and one assumes a Kähler potential with minimal form $`K=|S|^2+|\mathrm{\Phi }_+|^2+|\mathrm{\Phi }_{}|^2`$. The scalar potential for the bosonic components $`s,\varphi _+,\varphi _{}`$ is then

$`V`$ $`=`$ $`\lambda ^2|s|^2(|\varphi _+|^2+|\varphi _{}|^2)+\lambda ^2|\varphi _+\varphi _{}|^2`$ (4)   
$`+`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}g^2(|\varphi _+|^2|\varphi _{}|^2+\xi )^2.`$ (5)   
The vacuum $`s=\varphi _+=0`$, $`|\varphi _{}|=\sqrt{\xi }`$ is supersymmetric but breaks the U(1) symmetry. The field $`s`$ is massless at tree level, while the fields $`\varphi _\pm `$ have masses $`m_\pm ^2=\lambda ^2|s|^2\pm g^2\xi `$. Thus for $`|s|>g\sqrt{\xi }/\lambda `$, and $`\varphi _\pm =0`$, the potential is flat in the $`s`$ direction and has positive curvature in the $`\varphi _\pm `$ directions. As a consequence of the broken supersymmetry, there are radiative corrections to the potential along this flat direction from $`\varphi _\pm `$ and their fermionic partners, resulting in an effective potential 

$$V_{\mathrm{eff}}=\frac{1}{2}g^2\xi ^2\left(1+\frac{g^2}{16\pi ^2}\mathrm{ln}\frac{\lambda ^2|s|^2}{\mathrm{\Lambda }^2}\right),$$
(6)   
where $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ is the renormalisation scale.

It is also possible that the U(1) symmetry is anomalous. However, the gauged U(1) symmetry is already effectively broken, leaving behind a global U(1) symmetry, which is broken when the charged fields gain expectation values. This results in the formation of global strings , to which our calculations do not strictly apply.

The two major pieces of data to which we wish to compare the theory are the mean square temperature fluctuation in the multipole $`\mathrm{}`$, or $`\mathrm{}(\mathrm{}+1)C_{\mathrm{}}/2\pi `$, and the power spectrum of matter density fluctuations $`P(k)=|\delta (k)|^2`$. In order to compute CMB and LSS power spectra we note that fluctuations due to cosmic strings are imprinted long after their formation. The string network is produced at the end of inflation, and it is conceivable that the inflationary fluctuations and the initial configuration of strings are correlated. However strings are highly incoherent, meaning that all string modes become decorrelated with themselves in time. Incoherence is due to the non-linear interactions present in the string evolutions, which lead to any Fourier mode being driven by all others. Hence the string network which produces the CMB and LSS fluctuations is surely uncorrelated with the string network produced at the end of inflation and therefore with the inflationary fluctuations.

The evolution of radiation, neutrinos, CDM, and baryons is linear for both string driven and inflationary perturbations. The fact that these two types of fluctuations are uncorrelated means that we can simply add the power spectra in CMB and LSS produced by each component separately.

The spectrum of the perturbations from $`D`$-term inflation is calculable , and can be expressed in terms of $`N`$, the number of $`e`$-foldings between the horizon exit of cosmological scales today and the end of inflation, which occurs at $`|\eta |=1`$. One finds

$$\frac{\mathrm{}(\mathrm{}+1)C_{\mathrm{}}^\mathrm{I}}{2\pi T_{\mathrm{CMB}}^2}\frac{1}{4}|\delta _H(k)|^2\frac{(2N+1)}{75}\left(\frac{\xi ^2}{M^4}\right),$$
(7)   
where $`T_{\mathrm{CMB}}=2.728K`$ is the temperature of the microwave background, and $`\delta _H(k)`$ is the matter perturbation amplitude at horizon crossing. The corrections to this formula, which is zeroth order in slow roll parameters, are not more than a few per cent. The inflationary fluctuations in this model are almost scale-invariant (Harrison-Zeldovich) and have a negligible tensor component .

The string contribution is uncorrelated with the inflationary one, and is proportional to $`(G\mu )^2`$, where $`\mu `$ is the string mass per unit length, given by $`\mu =2\pi \xi `$. We can write it as

$$\frac{\mathrm{}(\mathrm{}+1)C_{\mathrm{}}^\mathrm{S}}{2\pi T_{\mathrm{CMB}}^2}=\frac{𝒜^\mathrm{S}(\mathrm{})}{16}\left(\frac{\xi ^2}{M^4}\right),$$
(8)   
where the function $`𝒜^\mathrm{S}(\mathrm{})`$ gives the amplitude of the fractional temperature fluctuations in units of $`(G\mu )^2`$. Allen et al.  report $`𝒜^\mathrm{S}(\mathrm{})60`$ on large angular scales, with little dependence on $`\mathrm{}`$. Our simulations give $`𝒜^\mathrm{S}(\mathrm{})120`$, with a fairly strong tilt. The source of the difference is not alogether clear: our simulations are based on a flat space code which neglects the energy losses of the strings through Hubble damping. The simulations of Allen et al. do include Hubble damping, which would tend to reduce the string density and hence the normalisation. However, they have a problem of lack of dynamic range, and therefore may be missing some power from strings at early times, and therefore higher $`\mathrm{}`$.

Jeannerot  took the Allen–Shellard normalisation and $`N60`$, and found that the proportion of strings to inflation is roughly $`3:1`$. With our normalisation, the approximate ratio is $`4:1`$. In any case this ratio is far from a robust prediction in strings plus inflation models, as it depends on the number of $`e`$-foldings, and the string normalisation, both of which are uncertain. We will therefore leave it as a free parameter. For definiteness we shall parametrize the contribution due to strings and inflation by the strings to inflation ratio $`R_{\mathrm{SI}}`$, defined as the ratio in $`C_{\mathrm{}}`$ at $`\mathrm{}=5`$, that is $`R_{\mathrm{SI}}=C_5^S/C_5^I`$.

In Figs. 1 and 2 we present power spectra in CMB and CDM produced by a sCDM scenario, by cosmic strings, and by strings plus inflation. We have assumed the traditional choice of parameters, setting the Hubble parameter $`H_0=50`$ km sec<sup>-1</sup> Mpc<sup>-1</sup>, the baryon fraction to $`\mathrm{\Omega }_b=0.05`$, and assumed a flat geometry, no cosmological constant, 3 massless neutrinos, standard recombination, and cold dark matter. The inflationary perturbations have a Harrison-Zeldovich or scale invariant spectrum, and the amount of gravitational radiation (tensor modes) produced during inflation is assumed to be negligible. The cosmic strings are assumed to attain scaling by losing their energy into gravitational radiation, or some other non-interacting radiation fluid. Other assumptions for the equation of state of the decay products may be made : however, a relativistic equation of state produces the worst bias problem at large scales and thus represents the “worst case” string scenario.

We now highlight the main features in the resulting CMB and LSS power spectra. The CMB power spectrum shape in these models is highly exotic. The inflationary contribution is close to being Harrison-Zeldovich. Hence it produces a flat small $`\mathrm{}`$ CMB spectrum. The admixture of strings, however, imparts a tilt. Depending on $`R_{\mathrm{SI}}`$ one may tune the CMB plateau tilt between 1 and about 1.4, without invoking primordial tilt and inflation produced gravity waves. This may be seen as a positive feature, as a flat spectrum is not favoured by the COBE data .

The proverbial inflationary Doppler peaks are transfigured in these scenarios into a thick Doppler bump, covering the region $`\mathrm{}=200600`$. The height of the peak is similar for sCDM and strings, with standard cosmological parameters. Fitting two of the Saskatoon points, therefore requires fiddling with cosmological parameters. The Doppler bump is modulated by small undulations, which cannot truly be called secondary peaks. By tuning $`R_{\mathrm{SI}}`$ one may achieve any degree of secondary oscillation softening. This provides a major loophole in the argument linking inflation with secondary oscillations in the CMB power spectrum. If these oscillations were not observed, inflation could still survive, in the form of the models discussed in this Letter.

The CMB fluctuations in these models combine a Gaussian component, produced by inflationary fluctuations, and a non-Gaussian component, due to strings. The superposition of Gaussian and non-Gaussian maps often leads to rather subtle non-Gaussian structures, visually indistinguishable from Gaussian maps . Sophisticated statistics would certainly be required to recognize the non-Gaussian signal in these theories.

In these scenarios the LSS of the Universe is almost all produced by inflationary fluctuations. However COBE scale CMB anisotropies are due to both strings and inflation. Therefore COBE normalized CDM fluctuations are reduced by a factor $`(1+R_{\mathrm{SI}})`$ in strings plus inflation scenarios. This is equivalent to multiplying the sCDM bias by $`\sqrt{1+R_{\mathrm{SI}}}`$ on all scales, except the smallest, where the string contribution may be non negligible. Given that sCDM scenarios produce too much structure on small scales (too many clusters) this is a desirable feature.

We find that the the bias required to fit the power spectrum of Peacock and Dodds  at the 8 $`h^1`$Mpc scale is $`b_8=\sigma _8^{\mathrm{PD}}/\sigma _8=0.7,0.8,1.0`$, for $`R_{\mathrm{SI}}=0.25,0.5,0.75`$ respectively. In 100 $`h^1`$Mpc spheres one requires bias $`b_{100}=\sigma _{100}^{\mathrm{PD}}/\sigma _{100}=1.0,1.2,1.6`$ to match observations. None of these values is uncomfortable. If most of the objects used to estimate $`P(k)`$ evolved from high peaks of the density field, one should have biasing, not anti-biasing, and the bias should also be of order 1. Strings plus inflation with $`R_{\mathrm{SI}}>0.75`$ complies with these requirements, whereas each separate component does not. However, with the simplest choice of cosmological parameters, the bias must be scale dependent in these models.

The model naturally inherits most of the sCDM good features. For instance, it fits the Lyman break galaxy clustering found in , and the constraints inferred from damped Lyman-$`\alpha `$ systems .

If we are prepared to combine inflation with more unusual string scenarios, in which, say, the strings loose energy in a direct channel into CDM , then the major novelty is that strings will be responsible for the LSS on scales below about 30$`h^1`$Mpc. We will discuss elsewhere how this may have interesting implications for the time evolution of the CDM power spectrum . Active models drive fluctuations at all times, and therefore produce a time-dependence in $`P(k)`$ different from passive models. In such models there would also be intrinsic non-Gaussianity at the scale of clusters, with interesting connections with the work of .

In summary, mixing cosmic string and sCDM spectra smoothes the hard edges of either separate component, leaving a much better fit to LSS and CMB power spectra (see  for another happy marriage). It is perhaps rather ironic that inflation and strings, often presented in opposition to one another, should find such a fruitful union. We do not wish to claim that the outcome is perfect: the shape of the power spectrum still goes wrong in the standard cosmology. The purpose of this work is to start the investigation of a new set of cosmological models, those which combine inflation and defects. As the data improves we will be able to constrain them more heavily, particularly as the first peak in the CMB power spectrum begins to be traced. Meanwhile, we are left with an intriguing hybrid model.

We thank Rachel Jeannerot for urging us to carry out this project, and R.Battye, P. Ferreira, A. Liddle and J. Weller for helpful comments. We acknowledge financial support from the Beit Foundation (CC), PPARC (MH), and the Royal Society (JM).