Gauge-flation Vs Chromo-Natural Inflation

TL;DR

This paper compares gauge-flation and chromo-natural inflation models, showing that the latter with axions admits various slow-roll trajectories depending on parameter choices, expanding the understanding of inflationary dynamics.

Contribution

It demonstrates that chromo-natural inflation with axions allows for multiple slow-roll trajectories, connecting different parameter regimes to previously studied models.

Findings

Chromo-natural inflation admits various slow-roll trajectories.

Different parameter choices correspond to 'small' or 'large' axion' regions.

The model generalizes gauge-flation by including axion dynamics.

Abstract

Gauge-flation, non-Abelian gauge field inflation, which was introduced in arXiv:1102.1513 and analyzed more thoroughly in arXiv:1102.1932, is a model of inflation driven by non-Abelian gauge fields minimally coupled to Einstein gravity. In this model certain rotationally invariant combination of gauge fields play the role of inflaton. Recently, the chromo-natural inflation model was proposed arXiv:1202.2366 which besides the non-Abelian gauge fields also involve an axion field. In this short note we show that the model involving axions, indeed allows for various slow-roll trajectories for different values of its parameters: A specific trajectory discussed in arXiv:1202.2366 starts from a "small axion" region, while the trajectory considered in arXiv:1102.1513 corresponds to a "large axion" region.