M-flation: inflation from matrix valued scalar fields
- Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1040 (United States)
We propose an inflationary scenario, M-flation, in which inflation is driven by three N × N hermitian matrices Φ{sub i}, i = 1, 2, 3. The inflation potential of our model, which is strongly motivated from string theory, is constructed from Φ{sub i} and their commutators. We show that one can consistently restrict the classical dynamics to a sector in which the Φ{sub i} are proportional to the N × N irreducible representations of SU(2). In this sector our model effectively behaves as an N-flation model with 3N{sup 2} number of fields and the effective inflaton field has a super-Planckian field value. Furthermore, the fine-tunings associated with unnaturally small couplings in the chaotic type inflationary scenarios are removed. Due to the matrix nature of the inflaton fields there are 3N{sup 2}−1 extra scalar fields in the dynamics. These have the observational effects such as production of iso-curvature perturbations on cosmic microwave background. Moreover, the existence of these extra scalars provides us with a natural preheating mechanism and exit from inflation. As the effective inflaton field can traverse super-Planckian distances in the field space, the model is capable of producing a considerable amount of gravity waves that can be probed by future CMB polarization experiments such as PLANCK, QUIET and CMBPOL.
- OSTI ID:
- 22273148
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Vol. 2009, Issue 06; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1475-7516
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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