Inflation at the Edge

Abstract

Recent results from cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments verify several of the predictions of inflation, while ruling out a number of alternative structure-formation scenarios. Given the successes of the theory, the obvious next step is to press ahead and test inflation to the edge of all our current and forthcoming observational abilities. According to the inflationary paradigm, galaxies and their large-scale distribution in the Universe are remnants of inflation and can thus be studied to learn more about inflation in the same way that experimental particle physicists study the remnants of high-energy collisions. Here I discuss how studies of galactic substructure, galaxies, clusters, large-scale structure, and the CMB, may be used to learn more about inflation.

8 pages. To appear in "Galaxy Evolution: Theory and Observations", Eds. V. Avila-Reese, C. Firmani, C. Frenk, & C. Allen, RevMexAA SC (2002)