Slow-roll Parameters Research Articles

Non-minimally coupled curvaton

We investigate two-field inflationary models in which scalar cosmological pertubations are generated viaa spectator field nonminimallycoupled to gravity, with the particular emphasis oncurvaton scenarios.The principal advantage of these models is in the possibility to tunethe spectator spectral index via the nonminimal coupling.Our models naturally yield red spectrum of the adiabatic perturbation demanded by observations.We study how the nonminimal coupling affects the spectrum of the curvature perturbationgenerated in the curvaton scenarios. In particular we find that for small, negative nonminimal couplingsthe spectral index gets a contribution that is negative and linear in the nonminimal coupling.Since in this way the curvature spectrum becomes redder, some of curvaton scenarios canbe saved, which would otherwise be ruled out.In the power law inflation we find that a large nonminimal coupling is excluded sinceit gives the principal slow-roll parameter that is of the order of unity.Finally, we point out that nonminimal coupling can affectthe postinflationary growth of the spectator perturbation,and in this way the effectiveness of the curvaton mechanism.

Primordial non-Gaussianity in supersolid inflation

We study primordial non-gaussianity in supersolid inflation. The dynamics of supersolid is formulated in terms of an effective field theory based on four scalar fields with a shift symmetric action minimally coupled with gravity. In the scalar sector, there are two phonon-like excitations with a kinetic mixing stemming from the completely spontaneous breaking of diffeomorphism. In a squeezed configuration, fNL of scalar perturbations is angle dependent and not proportional to slow-roll parameters showing a blunt violation of the Maldacena consistency relation. Contrary to solid inflation, the violation persists even after an angular average and generically the amount of non-gaussianity is significant. During inflation, non-gaussianity in the TSS and TTS sector is enhanced in the same region of the parameters space where the secondary production of gravitational waves is sizeable enough to enter in the sensitivity region of LISA, while the scalar fNL is still within the current experimental limits.

The upper bound on the tensor-to-scalar ratio consistent with quantum gravity

We consider the polynomial inflation with the tensor-to-scalar ratio as large as possible which can be consistent with the quantum gravity (QG) corrections and effective field theory (EFT). To get a minimal field excursion Δϕ for enough e-folding number N, the inflaton field traverses an extremely flat part of the scalar potential, which results in the Lyth bound to be violated. We get a CMB signal consistent with Planck data by numerically computing the equation of motion for inflaton ϕ and using Mukhanov–Sasaki formalism for primordial spectrum. Inflation ends at Hubble slow-roll parameter or . Interestingly, we find an excellent practical bound on the inflaton excursion in the format , where a is a tiny real number and b is at the order 1. To be consistent with QG/EFT and suppress the high-dimensional operators, we show that the concrete condition on inflaton excursion is . For n s = 0.9649, N e = 55, and , we predict that the tensor-to-scalar ratio is smaller than 0.0012 for such polynomial inflation to be consistent with QG/EFT.

Inflaton effective potential from photons for general ε

We accurately approximate the contribution that photons make to the effective potential of a charged inflaton for inflationary geometries with an arbitrary first slow roll parameter $\epsilon$. We find a small, nonlocal contribution and a numerically larger, local part. The local part involves first and second derivatives of $\epsilon$, coming exclusively from the constrained part of the electromagnetic field which carries the long range interaction. This causes the effective potential induced by electromagnetism to respond more strongly to geometrical evolution than for either scalars, which have no derivatives, or spin one half particles, which have only one derivative. For $\epsilon = 0$ our final result agrees with that of Allen on de Sitter background, while the flat space limit agrees with the classic result of Coleman and Weinberg.

Inflation and Reheating in f(R,h) theory formulated in the Palatini formalism

A new model for inflation using modified gravity in the Palatini formalism is constructed. Here non-minimal coupling of scalar field h with the curvature R as a general function f(R,h) is considered. Explicit inflation models for some choices of f(R,h) are developed. By writing an equivalent scalar-tensor action for this model and going over to Einstein frame, slow roll parameters are constructed. There exists a large parameter space for different choices of f(R,h) and potentials which satisfy values of n s and limits on r compatible with Planck 2018 data. Further, we calculate reheating temperature and the number of e-folds at the end of reheating for different values of equation of state parameter for all the constructed models.

Primordial black holes and secondary gravitational waves from ultraslow roll and punctuated inflation

[Abridged] The primordial scalar power spectrum is well constrained on large scales, primarily by the observations of the anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Over the last few years, it has been recognized that a sharp rise in power on small scales will lead to enhanced formation of primordial black holes (PBHs) and also generate secondary gravitational waves (GWs) of higher and, possibly, detectable amplitudes. It is well understood that scalar power spectra with COBE normalized amplitude on the CMB scales and enhanced amplitudes on smaller scales can be generated due to deviations from slow roll in single, canonical scalar field models of inflation. In fact, an epoch of so-called ultra slow roll inflation can lead to the desired amplification. We find that scenarios that lead to ultra slow roll can be broadly classified into two types, one wherein there is a brief departure from inflation (a scenario referred to as punctuated inflation) and another wherein such a departure does not arise. We consider a set of single field inflationary models involving the canonical scalar field that lead to ultra slow roll and punctuated inflation and examine the formation of PBHs as well as the generation of secondary GWs in these models. Apart from considering specific models, we reconstruct potentials from certain functional choices of the first slow roll parameter leading to ultra slow roll and punctuated inflation and investigate their observational signatures. In addition to the secondary tensor power spectrum, we calculate the secondary tensor bispectrum in the equilateral limit in these scenarios. Moreover, we calculate the inflationary scalar bispectrum that arises in all the cases and discuss the imprints of the scalar non-Gaussianities on the extent of PBHs formed and the amplitude of the secondary GWs.

Tsallis holographic dark energy for inflation

The application of holographic principle in very early time is studied. The consideration of the principle in the late-time evolution will be a good motivation to study its role at the time of inflation. Since the length scale is expected to be small during inflation, the resulted energy density form the holographic principle is expected to be large enough to drive inflation. The entropy of the system is the main part of the holographic principle, in which modifying entropy will leads to a modified energy density. Here, instead of the original entropy, we are going to apply a modified entropy, known as Tsallis entropy which includes quantum corrections. The length scale is assumed to be GO length scale. Finding an analytical solution for the model, the slow-roll parameters, scalar spectral index, and tensor-to-scalar ratio are calculated. Comparing the result, with Planck $r-n_s$ diagram, we could find a parametric space for the constants of the model. Then, a correspondence between the holographic dark energy and the scalar field is constructed, and the outcome potentials are investigated.

A solution to the de Sitter swampland conjecture versus inflation tension via supergravity

The methods of supergravity allow us to derive a multi-field F-term potential. Using this, we denote a generic and non-positive single-field F-term potential. We insert our theory into the scalar-gravity part of the (2,1|1) invariant superconformal action. That action leads us to a de Sitter solution at the inflationary trajectory. One can denote stabilization of fields in terms of the Kähler kinetic terms and single-field slow-roll inflation parameters. We combine these with the de Sitter swampland conjecture to generate a bounded conjecture. This approach allowed us to show that the single field slow-roll inflation works in harmony with bounded de Sitter conjecture for any concave inflation potential.

Generalizing the swampland: Embedding P(X,φ) inflationary theories in a curved multifield space

We study the general embedding of a $ P(X, \varphi) $ inflationary theory into a two-field theory with curved field space metric, which was proposed as a possible way to examine the relation between de Sitter Swampland conjecture and \textit{k}-inflation. We show that this embedding method fits into the special type of two-field model in which the heavy field can be integrated out at the full action level. However, this embedding is not exact due to the upper bound of the effective mass of the heavy field. We quantify the deviation between the speed of sound calculated via the $ P(X, \varphi) $ theory and the embedding two-field picture to next leading order terms. We especially focus on the first potential slow roll parameter defined in the two-field picture and obtain an upper bound on it.

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

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.

Warm intermediate and logamediate cosmic inflation with a constant ‎dissipation coefficient in loop quantum gravity

Warm inflationary model in the context of loop quantum cosmology is investigated. To this aim we consider two cases intermediate inflation and logamediate inflation. In both the cases, assuming a constant dissipation coefficient, we study the model under consideration in weak dissipation regime and also in strong dissipation regime. In each of these cases, we obtain various parameters such as potential function of inflationary scalar field and slow-roll parameters. Perturbation theory and also finding relations between perturbative parameters is studied.

Consistency of a kind of general noncanonical warm inflation

The framework of a kind of noncanonical warm inflation is introduced, and the dynamical equations of this scenario are presented. We propose the slow roll approximations and give some redefining slow roll parameters in this scenario which remain dimensionless. Performing systemic stability analysis, we calculate the slow roll conditions to guarantee that slow roll approximations hold. The slow roll conditions suggest slow roll inflation in general noncanonical warm inflationary scenario can still exist, and in addition, the slow roll approximations are more easily to be satisfied. Then, a concrete Dirac-Born-Infeld warm inflationary model is studied.

An intermediate inflation of the early Universe from f(R) gravity

In this work, we study on the inflationary era of the Universe in the context of f(R) gravity. For this purpose, we consider the f(R) gravity and its scalar perturbation equations. We start with an equation symmetry approach, a notation, which characterizes both the field equations of the gravity and evolution of the scalar perturbations. Throughout the study, to realize inflation we assume that the first slow-roll parameter $$\epsilon _{1}$$ takes a small value with the number of e-folds which has nearly a constant value as $$N\sim 60$$ . An intermediate inflation, which has an initial condition (the Bunch–Davies vacuum state), is obtained. Here, the resulting solution eventually causes the universe enters to the radiation era. Viability of this inflation scenario is investigated by calculating the power spectrum of the primordial curvature perturbations which is observed nearly scale-invariant with some parameters of the intermediate scale factor. Then, the two observable parameters (i.e., the scalar spectral index parameter and the tensor-to-scalar ratio) are obtained. The findings are compared with latest observational data, and we have observed that this inflation scenario for the early universe is possible.

Slow-roll inflation in f(R,T) gravity and a modified Starobinsky-like inflationary model

In this work, we studied the slow-roll approximation of cosmic inflation within the context of $f(R,T)$ gravity, where $R$ is the scalar curvature, and $T$ is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor. By choosing a minimal coupling between matter and gravity, we obtained the modified slow-roll parameters, the scalar spectral index ($n_s$), the tensor spectral index ($n_{\textrm{T}}$), and the tensor-to-scalar ratio ($r$). We computed these quantities for a general power-law potential, Natural & Quartic Hilltop inflation, and the Starobinsky model, plotting the trajectories on the $(n_s,r)$ plane. We found that one of the parameters of Natural/Hilltop models is non-trivially modified. Besides, if the coupling is in the interval $-0.5 < \alpha < 5.54$, we concluded that the Starobinsky-like model predictions are in good agreement with the last Planck measurement, but with the advantage of allowing a wide range of admissible values for $r$ and $n_{\textrm{T}}$.

Towards a reliable effective field theory of inflation

We present the first quantum field theory model of inflation that is renormalizable in the matter sector, with a super-Hubble inflaton mass and sub-Planckian field excursions, which is thus technically natural and consistent with a high-energy completion within a theory of quantum gravity. This is done in the framework of warm inflation, where we show, for the first time, that strong dissipation can fully sustain a slow-roll trajectory with slow-roll parameters larger than unity in a way that is both theoretically and observationally consistent. The inflaton field corresponds to the relative phase between two complex scalar fields that collectively break a U(1) gauge symmetry, and dissipates its energy into scalar degrees of freedom in the warm cosmic heat bath. A discrete interchange symmetry protects the inflaton mass from large thermal corrections. We further show that the dissipation coefficient decreases with temperature in certain parametric regimes, which prevents a large growth of thermal inflaton fluctuations. We find, in particular, a very good agreement with the Planck legacy data for a simple quadratic inflaton potential, predicting a low tensor-to-scalar ratio r≲10−5.

Reconstructing k -essence: Unifying the attractor nS(N) and the swampland criteria

The reconstruction of a k-essence inflationary universe, considering the unification between the swampland criteria and the attractor given by the scalar spectral index $n_S(N)$ together with the slow roll parameter $\epsilon(N)$in terms of the number of $e$-folds $N$ is studied. In the context of a coupling of the form $L(\phi)\,X$ in the k-essence model, we find the effective potential $V$ and the coupling parameter $L$ in terms of the scalar spectral index and the slow roll parameter under a general formalism. To apply the unification in our model, we consider some examples in order to rebuild the effective potential $V(\phi)$ and the coupling parameter $L(\phi)$ as a function of the inflaton field $\phi$. Here, we find that the reconstruction gives rise to an exponential potential and also to natural and hyperbolic inflation, respectively. Thus, in this article we show that it is possible to unify the theoretical foundations from the swampland criteria and the observational parameters corroborated by observations, in the reconstruction of an inflationary universe.

Primordial perturbations and inflation in holographic cosmology

We consider an inflationary scenario in the holographic braneworld with a cosmological fluid occupying the 3+1 dimensional brane located at the holographic boundary of an asymptotic ADS$_5$ bulk. The contribution of the boundary conformal field can be represented as a modification of Einstein's equations on the boundary. Using these effective Einstein equations we calculate the cosmological perturbations and derive the corresponding power spectra assuming a general $k$-essence type of inflaton. We find that the braneworld scenario affects the scalar power spectrum only in the speed of sound dependence on the slow-roll parameters whereas there is no change in the tensor power spectrum. This implies that the changes in the spectral indices appear at the second order in the slow-roll parameter expansion.

No slow-roll inflation à la generalized Chaplygin gas in general relativity

The Generalized Chaplygin Gas (GCG) model is characterized by the equation of state P = −A ρ−α, where A>0 and α < 1. The model has been extensively studied due to its interesting properties and applicability in several contexts, from late-time acceleration to primordial inflation. Nonetheless we show that the inflationary slow-roll regime cannot be satisfied by most of the parameter space of the GCG model when General Relativity (GR) is considered. In particular, although the model has been applied to inflation with 0 < α < 1, we show that for −1 < α ≤ 1 there is no expansion of the Universe but an accelerated contraction. For α ≤ −5/3, the second slow-roll parameter ηH is larger than unity, so there is no sustained period of inflation. Only for α very close to -1 the model produces enough e-folds, thus greatly reducing its parameter space. Moreover, we show that the model is ruled out by the Planck 2018 results. Finally, we extend our analysis to the Generalized Chaplygin-Jacobi Gas (GCJG) model. We find that the introduction of a new parameter does not change the previous results. We thus conclude that the violation of the slow-roll conditions is a generic feature of the GCG and GCJG models during inflation when GR is considered and that the models are ruled out by the Planck 2018 results.

General Slow-Roll Inflation in f(R) Gravity under the Palatini Approach

Slow-roll inflation is analyzed in the context of modified gravity within the Palatini formalism. As shown in the literature, inflation in this framework requires the presence of non-traceless matter; otherwise, it does not occur just as a consequence of the nonlinear gravitational terms of the action. Nevertheless, by including a single scalar field that plays the role of the inflaton, slow-roll inflation can be performed in these theories, where the equations lead to an effective potential that modifies the dynamics. We obtain the general slow-roll parameters and analyze a simple model to illustrate the differences introduced by the gravitational terms under the Palatini approach, and the modifications on the spectral index and the tensor to scalar ratio predicted by the model.

Inflation in string field theory

In this paper, we analyze the inflationary cosmology using string field theory. This is done by using the zero level contribution from string field theory, which is a non-local tachyonic action. We will use the non-local Friedmann equations for this model based on string field theory, and calculate the slow-roll parameters for this model. We will then explicitly obtain the scalar and tensorial power spectrum, their related indices, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio for this model. Finally, we use cosmological data from Planck 2013 to 2018 to constrain the free parameters in this model, and find that string field theory is compatible with them.