from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

  • n. A scalar field associated with fluctuations in the curvature of space during inflation


Sorry, no etymologies found.


  • The mechanism requires the introduction of a large-amplitude superhorizon perturbation to the curvaton field, possibly a pre-inflationary remnant or a superhorizon curvaton-web structure.

    The Lopsided Universe

  • It turns out that you can make things work if you have two scalar fields — one that does the inflating, cleverly called the “inflaton,” and the other which is responsible for the density perturbations, which should obviously be called the “perturbon” but for historical reasons is actually called the “curvaton.”

    The Lopsided Universe

  • In contrast, a multi-field inflationary theory, the curvaton model, can produce this power asymmetry without violating the homogeneity constraint.

    The Lopsided Universe

  • We also consider constraints to a superhorizon fluctuation in the curvaton field, which was recently proposed as a source of the hemispherical power asymmetry in the CMB.

    Superhorizon Perturbations and the Cosmic Microwave Background

