INFLATION AND LARGE-SCALE STRUCTURE FORMATION AFTER THE COSMIC BACKGROUND EXPLORER

The simplest realizations of the new inflationary scenario typically give rise to primordial density fluctuations which deviate logarithmically from the scale-free Harrison-Zeldovich spectrum. We consider a number of such examples and in each case we normalize the amplitude of the fluctuations with the recent Cosmic Background Explorer measurement of the microwave background anisotropy. The predictions for the bulk velocities as well as anisotropies on smaller (1 to 2 deg) angular scales are compared with the Harrison-Zeldovich case. Deviations from the latter range from a few to about 15%. We also estimate the redshift beyond which the quasars would not be expected to be seen. The inflationary quasar cutoff redshifts can vary by as much as 25% from the Harrison-Zeldovich case. We find that the inflationary scenario provides a good starting point for a theory of large-scale structure in the universe provided the dark matter is a combination of cold plus (10-30%) hot components.