Moduli vacuum misalignment and precise predictions in string inflation

Michele Cicoli, Koushik Dutta, Anshuman Maharana, Fernando Quevedo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The predictions for all the cosmological observables of any inflationary model depend on the number of e-foldings which is sensitive to the post-inflationary history of the universe. In string models the generic presence of light moduli leads to a late-time period of matter domination which lowers the required number of e-foldings and, in turn, modifies the exact predictions of any inflationary model. In this paper we compute exactly the shift of the number of e-foldings in Kähler moduli inflation which is determined by the magnitude of the moduli initial displacement caused by vacuum misalignment and the moduli decay rates. We find that the preferred number of e-foldings gets reduced from 50 to 45, causing a modification of the spectral index at the percent level. Our results illustrate the importance of understanding the full post-inflationary evolution of the universe in order to derive precise predictions in string inflation. To perform this task it is crucial to work in a setting where there is good control over moduli stabilisation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number006
JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Volume2016
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 3 2016

Keywords

  • cosmology with extra dimensions
  • ination
  • physics of the early universe
  • string theory and cosmology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics

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