On the Trans-Planckian Censorship Conjecture and the Generalized Non-Minimal Coupling

TL;DR

This paper explores how a generalized non-minimal coupling in inflationary models can relax the Trans-Planckian Censorship Conjecture bounds, potentially removing the need for new physics beyond standard inflation.

Contribution

It demonstrates that considering the initial effective Planck mass in models with non-minimal coupling can eliminate TCC bounds without altering the standard inflationary framework.

Findings

TCC bounds can be removed with non-minimal coupling

Initial effective Planck mass plays a crucial role

Standard inflation mechanisms remain viable

Abstract

We investigate the Trans-Planckian Censorship Conjecture (TCC) and the arising bounds on the inflationary cosmology caused by that conjecture. In that investigation, we analyze TCC bounds for both Jordan and Einstein frames in the presence of a generic non-minimal coupling (to gravity) term. That term allows us to use the functional freedom it brings to the inflationary Lagrangian as an effective Planck mass. In this sense, we argue one should consider the initial field value of the effective Planck mass for the TCC. We show that as a result, one can remove the TCC upper bounds without the need to produce a new process or go beyond the standard inflation mechanism, with the generalized non-minimal coupling, and for Higgs-like symmetry-breaking potentials.