Higgs Inflation, Quantum Smearing and the Tensor to Scalar Ratio

TL;DR

This paper examines how quantum effects in Higgs-driven cosmic inflation can alter the predicted tensor-to-scalar ratio, making it potentially detectable by Planck, and highlights the importance of quantum corrections in inflationary predictions.

Contribution

It introduces quantum smearing effects on Higgs inflation predictions, showing these can lower the tensor-to-scalar ratio while remaining within observable ranges.

Findings

Quantum corrections can significantly reduce r from initial estimates.

For n_s >= 0.96, r remains above 0.02, testable by Planck.

Quantum effects are crucial for accurate inflationary predictions.

Abstract

In cosmic inflation driven by a scalar gauge singlet field with a tree level Higgs potential, the scalar to tensor ratio r is estimated to be larger than 0.036, provided the scalar spectral index n_s >= 0.96. We discuss quantum smearing of these predictions arising from the inflaton couplings to other particles such as GUT scalars, and show that these corrections can significantly decrease r. However, for n_s >= 0.96, we obtain r >= 0.02 which can be tested by the Planck satellite.