Study on early inflationary phase using a new form of non-canonical scalar field model

Abstract

We study the inflationary phase of the early universe as modeled by a non-canonical scalar field. The homogeneous scalar field equation is derived from a Lagrangian density containing a new form of non-canonical kinetic term and a general potential function. The Lie symmetry is studied and a one parameter Lie point symmetry for the homogeneous scalar field equation is found. We use Lie symmetry generator to construct the exact analytical group invariant closed-form solution of the homogeneous scalar field equation without applying any slow-roll approximation from invariant curve condition. The solution thus obtained is seen to be consistent with the Friedmann equations subject to constraint conditions on the potential parameter $$\lambda $$ . In this scenario, we obtain the values for various inflationary parameters and make useful checks on the observational constraints on the parameters from Planck data by imposing a set of bounds on the parameter $$\lambda $$ of the potential. The results for scalar spectral index ( $$n_S$$ ) and tensor-to-scalar ratio (r) presented in the $$(n_S,\,r)$$ plane in the background of Planck2015 and Planck2018 data are in good agreement with cosmological observations. We find $$r\sim 10^{-3}$$ , the targeted value of r that will be detected by the future CMB observation such as LiteBIRD. Interestingly, most significant primordial non-Gaussianity is also achieved. For theoretical completeness of our non-canonical model, we obtain the allowed parameter space in which the ghosts and Laplacian instabilities are absent. We apply the formulas for slow-roll parameter to explain exit from the inflationary phase using the general potential. We also treat the non-canonical scalar field model equation by the dynamical system theory to provide useful checks on the stability of the critical points and show that the group invariant non-canonical inflationary solution is stable attractor in the phase space.