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For a statistically homogeneous isotropic dimensionless field, write its two-point autocorrelation function of a random field as $C(r)$ andThe formal real-space scale invariance condition is $C(\lambda \mathbf{r})=C(\mathbf{r})$ for all $\lambda >0$. Changing variable $\mathbf{q}=\lambda \mathbf{k}$ in the first expression and equating the nonzero-mode Fourier transforms gives ${\lambda }^{-3}P(q/\lambda )=P(q)$, equivalently $P(\lambda k)={\lambda }^{-3}P(k)$. Taking $\lambda =k/k_0$ yieldsThus a scale-invariant inflationary power spectrum has equal variance per logarithmic wavenumber interval, rather than equal power per Fourier volume.

There is an important mathematical qualification to the literal covariance condition. A nonzero $k^{-3}$ power spectrum over all scales has $C(0)=A\int dk/k/(2{\pi }^2)$, divergent at both endpoints; it is not the covariance of a finite-variance ordinary field. Moreover, exact dilation invariance of a continuous isotropic $C(r)$ makes it constant for $r>0$ and, by continuity, at zero: its spectrum can then consist only of a zero-mode delta measure. The nontrivial cosmological statement consequently concerns nonzero modes, with cutoffs or subtraction of an unobservable constant. For example the finite subtracted covarianceis invariant under simultaneous rescaling of $r,r_0$. This is the precise infrared qualification of a scale-invariant covariance; a regulated unsubtracted $C(r)$ generally shifts by an additive constant under dilation. The formal derivation above gives the intended nonzero-mode scaling, with this qualification rather than an impossible finite-variance premise.

The annihilation operators kill the vacuum, and their commutator givesTherefore the scale-invariant inflationary power spectrum has the superhorizon limitThe canonical mode grows as $1/|\tau |$ outside the Hubble radius, while the physical field perturbation $f/a$ freezes. A slowly varying $H$ produces an almost scale-invariant spectrum rather than exact scale invariance.

For a slowly rolling single field, fluctuations in the inflaton clock become the comoving curvature perturbation, $\mathcal{R}\simeq -H\delta \varphi /\dot{\bar{\varphi }}$ up to sign convention. Restoring the reduced Planck mass and using $ϵ={\dot{\bar{\varphi }}}^2/(2M_{\mathrm{pl}}^2{H}^2)$ givesThis conversion presumes nonzero background roll; a strictly constant test scalar in exact de Sitter spacetime does not by itself define a finite comoving curvature perturbation through this formula. The curvature perturbations seed the later density fluctuations.

When metric fluctuations and their Einstein-gravity normalization are restored, the two graviton polarizations have the same massless mode equation. The usual total primordial tensor power spectrum is ${\Delta }_t^2=2H^2/({\pi }^2{M}_{\mathrm{pl}}^2)$, so the single-field leading ratio is $r=16ϵ$. Tensor amplitudes therefore probe the inflationary energy scale, whereas scalar amplitudes also depend on the roll rate. These tensor statements explain the relevance of the mode result; they are not derived from a scalar action with metric perturbations omitted.

Use the Fourier normalization of the PDF. The creation and annihilation operators obeyThere is no $(2\pi {)}^3$ in this commutator because the expansion uses $(2\pi {)}^{-3/2}$. The Bunch-Davies vacuum satisfies ${\hat{a}}_{\mathbf{k}}|0⟩=0$. Write $u_k=f_k^{\ast }$ for the coefficient of the annihilation operator. Only the contraction $⟨0|{\hat{a}}_{\mathbf{k}}{\hat{a}}_{{\mathbf{k}}^{\prime }}^{†}|0⟩={\delta }^3(\mathbf{k}-{\mathbf{k}}^{\prime })$ contributes, soThe given mode hasSince $a^{-2}=H^2{\tau }^2$, the equal-time two-point function of a de Sitter scalar therefore has dimensional power spectrumComparing with the dimensionless power convention in the hint givesEquivalently, angular integration expresses the correlation as ${\int }_0^{\infty }(dk/k){\Delta }_{\delta \varphi }^2\sin (kr)/(kr)$, where $r=|\mathbf{r}|$.

On superhorizon scales, $k\ll aH$ is $|k\tau |\ll 1$, andThis scale-invariant inflationary power spectrum gives equal variance per logarithmic wavenumber interval. It is exactly scale invariant in the massless constant-$H$ approximation here; slow evolution of $H$ and small field mass produce a small spectral tilt. Such quantum primordial perturbations supply the initial fluctuations that subsequently seed cosmological structure after conversion to curvature and density perturbations. The curvature conversion itself requires the metric perturbations excluded from this calculation.

The continuum correlation is understood with the usual infrared regulator, such as finite volume or finite inflationary duration. The strictly massless infinite-volume model has a logarithmic infrared divergence. Coincident products also require ultraviolet regularization or smearing; the finite mode spectrum is unaffected by these qualifications.

With the symmetric Fourier normalization displayed in the question, the creation and annihilation operators obey the canonical commutation relationSince $\delta \hat{\varphi }=\hat{f}/a$, its vacuum two-point correlation function isComparison with the definition in the question givesUsing $|f_k{|}^2=(1+1/(k^2{\tau }^2))/(2k)$ and $a=-1/(H\tau )$,On superhorizon scales, $k\ll aH$ or $|k\tau |\ll 1$, so the scale-invariant inflationary power spectrum freezes to

In the far past, $|ck\tau |\gg 1$, the term $2/{\tau }^2$ is negligible and the rescaled mode is a quantum harmonic oscillator of angular frequency $ck$. The stated choice of its ground state is the Bunch-Davies vacuum.

At late times, after the mode is far outside the Hubble scale, $|ck\tau |\ll 1$. Its variance becomesSince $P_k$ has dimensions of length cubed, the dimensionless power is proportional to $k^3{P}_k$. More precisely, with the standard isotropic Fourier convention,which is independent of the wavenumber $k$. Thus equal logarithmic intervals in $k$ carry equal late-time power. This is the sense in which inflation naturally generates a scale-invariant inflationary power spectrum.

Canonical quantization imposesThe two-point correlation function has mode power $P_{\delta \varphi }=|f_k{|}^2/a^2$. After cosmological horizon exit, $|k\tau |\ll 1$, soThereforeThis is the scale-invariant inflationary power spectrum of a light canonical scalar.