Signatures of Planck corrections in a spiralling axion inflation model
- Dept. of Physics, University of Lancaster, Lancaster LA1 4YB (United Kingdom)
The minimal sub-Planckian axion inflation model accounts for a large scalar-to-tensor ratio via a spiralling trajectory in the field space of a complex field Φ. Here we consider how the predictions of the model are modified by Planck scale-suppressed corrections. In the absence of Planck corrections the model is equivalent to a φ{sup 4/3} chaotic inflation model. Planck corrections become important when the dimensionless coupling ξ of |Φ|{sup 2} to the topological charge density of the strongly-coupled gauge sector F F-tilde satisfies ξ ∼ 1. For values of |Φ| which allow the Planck corrections to be understood via an expansion in powers of |Φ|{sup 2}/M{sub Pl}{sup 2}, we show that their effect is to produce a significant modification of the tensor-to-scalar ratio from its φ{sup 4/3} chaotic inflation value without strongly modifying the spectral index. In addition, to leading order in |Φ|{sup 2}/M{sub Pl}{sup 2}, the Planck modifications of n{sub s} and r satisfy a consistency relation, Δ n{sub s} = −Δr/16. Observation of these modifications and their correlation would allow the model to be distinguished from a simple φ{sup 4/3} chaotic inflation model and would also provide a signature for the influence of leading-order Planck corrections.
- OSTI ID:
- 22525848
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Vol. 2015, Issue 05; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1475-7516
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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