Chern-Simons EM-flation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel inflation mechanism driven by a balance between potential forces and Chern-Simons interactions, which are common in string theory, leading to a robust slow-roll inflation model with potential experimental signatures.

Contribution

It presents a new inflationary scenario based on Chern-Simons interactions, mapping the dynamics to a charged particle in an electromagnetic field, and discusses its robustness and potential observational evidence.

Findings

Mechanism is robust against radiative corrections.

Dynamics can be modeled as magnetic drift in a charged particle analogy.

Potential experimental signatures linked to string theory evidence.

Abstract

We propose a new, generic mechanism of inflation mediated by a balance between potential forces and a Chern-Simons interaction. Such quasi-topological interactions are ubiquitous in string theory. In the minisuperspace approximation, their effect on the dynamics can be mapped onto the problem of a charged particle in an electromagnetic field together with an external potential; slow roll arises when the motion is dominated by the analogue of `magnetic drift'. This mechanism is robust against radiative corrections. We suggest a possible experimental signature which, if observed, might be considered strong evidence for string theory.