Search results for "inflaton"
showing 10 items of 35 documents
CMB spectral distortions in generic two-field models
2017
We investigate the CMB $\mu$ distortion in models where two uncorrelated sources contribute to primordial perturbations. We parameterise each source by an amplitude, tilt, running and running of the running. We perform a detailed analysis of the distribution signal as function of the model parameters, highlighting the differences compared to single-source models. As a specific example, we also investigate the mixed inflaton-curvaton scenario. We find that the $\mu$ distortion could efficiently break degeneracies of curvaton parameters especially when combined with future sensitivity of probing the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$. For example, assuming bounds $\mu < 0.5 \times 10^{-8}$ and $r<0.0…
Slow-roll corrections in multi-field inflation: a separate universes approach
2018
In view of cosmological parameters being measured to ever higher precision, theoretical predictions must also be computed to an equally high level of precision. In this work we investigate the impact on such predictions of relaxing some of the simplifying assumptions often used in these computations. In particular, we investigate the importance of slow-roll corrections in the computation of multi-field inflation observables, such as the amplitude of the scalar spectrum $P_\zeta$, its spectral tilt $n_s$, the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ and the non-Gaussianity parameter $f_{NL}$. To this end we use the separate universes approach and $\delta N$ formalism, which allows us to consider slow-roll…
Spacetime curvature and Higgs stability after inflation
2015
We investigate the dynamics of the Higgs field at the end of inflation in the minimal scenario consisting of an inflaton field coupled to the Standard Model only through the non-minimal gravitational coupling $\xi$ of the Higgs field. Such a coupling is required by renormalisation of the Standard Model in curved space, and in the current scenario also by vacuum stability during high-scale inflation. We find that for $\xi\gtrsim 1$, rapidly changing spacetime curvature at the end of inflation leads to significant production of Higgs particles, potentially triggering a transition to a negative-energy Planck scale vacuum state and causing an immediate collapse of the Universe.
Entropy Production during Asymptotically Safe Inflation
2011
The Asymptotic Safety scenario predicts that the deep ultraviolet of Quantum Einstein Gravity is governed by a nontrivial renormalization group fixed point. Analyzing its implications for cosmology using renormalization group improved Einstein equations we find that it can give rise to a phase of inflationary expansion in the early Universe. Inflation is a pure quantum effect here and requires no inflaton field. It is driven by the cosmological constant and ends automatically when the renormalization group evolution has reduced the vacuum energy to the level of the matter energy density. The quantum gravity effects also provide a natural mechanism for the generation of entropy. It could eas…
Constant-roll inflation: confrontation with recent observational data
2017
The previously proposed class of phenomenological inflationary models in which the assumption of inflaton slow-roll is replaced by the more general, constant-roll condition is compared with the most recent cosmological observational data, mainly the Planck ones. Models in this two-parametric class which remain viable appear to be close to the slow-roll ones, and their inflaton potentials are close to (but still different from) that of the natural inflation model. Permitted regions for the two model parameters are presented.
Tensor bounds on the hidden universe
2018
During single clock inflation, hidden fields (i.e. fields coupled to the inflaton only gravitationally) in their adiabatic vacua can ordinarily only affect observables through virtual effects. After renormalizing background quantities (fixed by observations at some pivot scale), all that remains are logarithmic runnings in correlation functions that are both Planck and slow roll suppressed. In this paper we show how a large number of hidden fields can partially compensate this suppression and generate a potentially observable running in the tensor two point function, consistently inferable courtesy of a large $N$ resummation. We detour to address certain subtleties regarding loop correction…
Transplanckian inflation as gravity echoes
2015
In this work, we show that, in the presence of non-minimal coupling to gravity, it is possible to generate sizeable tensor modes in single-field models without transplanckian field values. These transplanckian field values apparently needed in Einstein gravity to accommodate the experimental results may only be due to our insistence of imposing a minimal coupling of the inflaton field to gravity in a model with non-minimal couplings. We present three simple single-field models that prove that it is possible accommodate a large tensor-to-scalar ratio without requiring transplanckian field values within the slow-roll regime.
Coleman-Weinberg inflation in light of Planck
2014
We revisit a single field inflationary model based on Coleman-Weinberg potentials. We show that in small field Coleman-Weinberg inflation, the observed amplitude of perturbations needs an extremely small quartic coupling of the inflaton, which might be a signature of radiative origin. However, the spectral index obtained in a standard cosmological scenario turns out to be outside the 2 sigma region of the Planck data. When a non-standard cosmological framework is invoked, such as brane-world cosmology in the Randall-Sundrum model, the spectral index can be made consistent with Planck data within 1 sigma, courtesy of the modification in the evolution of the Hubble parameter in such a scheme.…
Induced-Gravity Inflation in Supergravity Confronted with Planck2013 and BICEP2
2015
Supersymmetric versions of induced-gravity inflation are f ormulated within Super- gravity (SUGRA) employing two gauge singlet chiral superfie lds. The proposed superpotential is uniquely determined by applying a continuous R and a discrete Z2 symmetry. We also employ a logarithmic Kahler potential respecting the symmetries above and including all the allowed terms up to fourth order in powers of the various fields. When the Kahle r manifold exhibits a no-scale-type symmetry, the model predicts spectral index ns ≃ 0.963 and tensor-to-scalar r ≃ 0.004. Beyond no-scale SUGRA, ns and r depend crucially on the coefficient kSΦ involved in the fourth order term, which mixes the inflaton Φ with th…
Gravity waves from non-minimal quadratic inflation
2015
We discuss non-minimal quadratic inflation in supersymmetric (SUSY) and non-SUSY models which entails a linear coupling of the inflaton to gravity. Imposing a lower bound on the parameter cR, involved in the coupling between the inflaton and the Ricci scalar curvature, inflation can be attained even for subplanckian values of the inflaton while the corresponding effective theory respects the perturbative unitarity up to the Planck scale. Working in the non-SUSY context we also consider radiative corrections to the inflationary potential due to a possible coupling of the inflaton to bosons or fermions. We find ranges of the parameters, depending mildly on the renormalization scale, with adju…