Signatures in the angular power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background anisotropies: Topological defect scenarios versus inflationary models

Abstract

Acoustic peaks in the angular power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background anisotropies may allow us to distinguish among the two classes of models—topological defect scenarios and inflationary models—which attempt to explain the origin of structure formation in the universe. I briefly sketch the main differences between these two classes of models and illustrate the relevant analysis of induced density perturbations, in a model where density perturbations are generated by global scalar fields, within a universe dominated by cold dark matter.