Predictions of single field inflation for the tensor/scalar ratio and the running spectral index

Abstract

We study the single field slow-roll inflation models that better agree with the available CMB and LSS data including the three years WMAP data: new inflation and hybrid inflation. We study these models as effective field theories in the Ginsburg-Landau context: a trinomial potential turns out to be a simple and well motivated model. The spectral index n{sub s} of the adiabatic fluctuations, the ratio r of tensor to scalar fluctuations and the running index dn{sub s}/dlnk are studied in detail. We derive explicit formulas for n{sub s}, r and dn{sub s}/dlnk and provide relevant plots. In new inflation, and for the chosen central value n{sub s}=0.95, we predict 0.03 1 behavior. Hybrid inflation for {mu}{sub 0}{sup 2}>{lambda}{sub 0}M{sub Pl}{sup 2}/192 fulfills all the present CMB+LSS data for a large enough initial inflaton amplitude. Even if chaotic inflation predicts n{sub s} values compatible with the data, chaotic inflation is disfavored since it predicts a too high value r{approx_equal}0.27 for the ratio of tensor to scalar fluctuations. The model which best agrees with the current data and which best prepares the way to the expected data r(less-or-similar sign)0.1, is the trinomial potential with negative mass term: new inflation.« less