Graviton Mode Function in Inflationary Cosmology

Abstract

We consider the production of gravitons in an inflationary cosmology by approximating each epoch of change in the equation of state as sudden, from which a simple analytic graviton mode function has been derived. We use this mode function to compute the graviton spectral energy density and the tensor-induced cosmic microwave background anisotropy. The results are then compared to the numerical calculations which incorporate a smooth radiation-matter phase transition. We find that the sudden approximation is a fairly good method. Besides, in determining the frequency range and amplitude of the mode function, we introduce a pre-inflationary radiation-dominated epoch and use a physically sensible regularization method.