Natural Braneworld Inflation in Light of Recent Results from Planck and BICEP2

TL;DR

This paper proposes a braneworld inflation model driven by a cosine potential, incorporating Gauss-Bonnet corrections, which naturally ends inflation and aligns with recent Planck and BICEP2 observations.

Contribution

The model introduces a novel inflationary scenario with a natural start and end, utilizing Gauss-Bonnet terms in a braneworld context, consistent with recent cosmological data.

Findings

Predicts tensor-to-scalar ratio r between 0.14 and 0.21

Compatible with Planck and BICEP2 results for spectral index n_s~0.960

Rules out the case of zero Gauss-Bonnet coupling, i.e., Randall-Sundrum model.

Abstract

In this paper we report on a major theoretical observation in cosmology. We present a concrete cosmological model for which inflation has natural beginning and natural ending. Inflation is driven by a cosine-form potential, $V(\phi)= \Lambda^4 (1-\cos(\phi/f))$, which begins at $\phi \lesssim \pi f$ and ends at $\phi =\phi_{\text{end}} \lesssim 5 f/3$. The distance traversed by the inflaton field $\phi$ is sub-Planckian. The Gauss-Bonnet term ${\cal R}^2$ arising as leading curvature corrections in the action $S = \int d^5{x} \sqrt{-g_{5}} M^3 (- 6\lambda M^2 + R + \alpha M^{-2} {\cal R}^2)+ \int d^{4}x \sqrt{-g_{4}} (\dot{\phi}^2/2 - V(\phi)- \sigma +{\cal L}_{\text{matter}})$ (where $\alpha$ and $\lambda$ are constants and $M$ is the five-dimensional Planck mass) plays a key role to terminate inflation. The model generates appropriate tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ and inflationary perturbations that are consistent with results from Planck and BICEP2. For example, for $N_*= 50-60$ and $n_s\sim 0.960\pm 0.005$, the model predicts that $M\sim 5.64\times 10^{16}\,{\text{GeV}}$ and $r\sim (0.14-0.21)$ [$N_*$ is the number of {\it e}--folds of inflation and $n_s$ ($n_{t}$) is the scalar (tensor) spectrum spectral index]. The ratio $-n_t/r$ is (13% -- 24%) less than its value in 4D Einstein gravity, $-n_t/r=1/8$. The upper bound on the energy scale of inflation $V^{1/4}=2.37\times 10^{16}\,{\text{GeV}}$ ($r<0.27$) implies that $(-\lambda \alpha) \gtrsim 75 \times 10^{-5}$ and $\Lambda<2.17\times 10^{16}\,{\text{GeV}}$, which thereby rule out the case $\alpha=0$ (Randall-Sundrum model). The true nature of gravity is holographic as implied by braneworld realization of string and M theory. The model correctly predicts a late epoch cosmic acceleration with the dark energy equation of state ${\text w}_{\text{DE}}\approx -1$.