Abstract
The inflaton field can be expected to couple to a number of additional fields whose energy density does not play any significant role in driving inflation. Such couplings may lead to isolated bursts of particle production during inflation, for example via parametric resonance or a phase transition, and leave observable imprints in the cosmological fluctuations. I illustrate this effect for a simple prototype interaction g2(ϕ − ϕ0)2χ between the inflaton, ϕ, and iso-inflaton, χ. Using both classical lattice simulations and analytical quantum field theory computations, I show that this mechanism generates localized bump-like features in the power spectrum and also a completely new type of nongaussianity. Observations are consistent with relatively large features of this type and the nongaussianity from particle production may be observable in future missions.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call