Leptogenesis and Reheating in Complex Hybrid Inflation

TL;DR

This paper explores how a complex scalar field during hybrid inflation can generate baryon asymmetry through leptogenesis, linking inflationary dynamics to matter-antimatter imbalance without new CP violation.

Contribution

It presents a novel mechanism connecting hybrid inflation, leptogenesis, and reheating, emphasizing the role of the waterfall field coupled to right-handed neutrinos.

Findings

Charge transfer from waterfall field to leptons explained

Reheating processes detailed in the inflationary context

Baryon asymmetry generation mechanism proposed

Abstract

We study the transformation into a baryon asymmetry of a charge initially stored in a complex (waterfall) scalar field at the end of a hybrid inflation phase as described in Ref[1]. The waterfall field is coupled to right-handed neutrinos, and is also responsible for their Majorana masses. The charge is finally transferred to the leptons of the Standard Model through the decay of the right-handed neutrinos without introducing new CP violating interactions. Other needed processes, like the decay of the inflaton field and the reheating of the Universe are also discussed in detail.