Higher order terms in the inflaton potential and the lower bound on the tensor to scalar ratio r

TL;DR

This paper explores how higher order terms in the inflaton potential affect CMB observables, establishing bounds on the tensor-to-scalar ratio r within a universal region, with implications for upcoming observations.

Contribution

It systematically analyzes the impact of arbitrary higher order inflaton potential terms on CMB parameters and defines a universal region for the ratio r in the Ginsburg-Landau framework.

Findings

The potential generated by fermions belongs to the Ginsburg-Landau class.

The (ns, r) values lie within a universal banana-shaped region B.

Current data constrains r between 0.021 and 0.053.

Abstract

The MCMC analysis of the CMB+LSS data in the context of the Ginsburg-Landau approach to inflation indicated that the fourth degree double--well inflaton potential best fits the present CMB and LSS data. This provided a lower bound for the ratio r of the tensor to scalar fluctuations and as most probable value r = 0.05, within reach of the forthcoming CMB observations. We systematically analyze here the effects of arbitrary higher order terms in the inflaton potential on the CMB observables: spectral index ns and ratio r. Furthermore, we compute in close form the inflaton potential dynamically generated when the inflaton field is a fermion condensate in the inflationary universe. This inflaton potential turns to belong to the Ginsburg-Landau class too. The theoretical values in the (ns,r) plane for all double well inflaton potentials in the Ginsburg-Landau approach (including the potential generated by fermions) turn to be inside a universal banana-shaped region B. The upper border of the banana-shaped region B is given by the fourth order double--well potential and provides an upper bound for the ratio r.The lower border of B is defined by the quadratic plus an infinite barrier inflaton potential and provides a lower bound for the ratio r. For example, the current best value of the spectral index ns = 0.964, implies r is in the interval: 0.021 < r < 0.053. Interestingly enough, this range is within reach of forthcoming CMB observations.