Minimally coupled $\beta$-exponential inflation with an $R^2$ term in the Palatini formulation

TL;DR

This paper investigates the inflationary predictions of a $eta$-exponential potential model within Palatini $R^2$ gravity, analyzing reheating effects and comparing results with current and future CMB observational constraints.

Contribution

It introduces a novel combination of $eta$-exponential inflation with $R^2$ terms in Palatini gravity, including reheating effects and observational constraints analysis.

Findings

Results are consistent with current observational data.

Predictions remain viable under future experimental sensitivities.

Reheating scenarios influence inflationary observable predictions.

Abstract

We focus on the inflationary predictions of $\beta$-exponential potential models, in which the inflaton is a representation of the field delineating the size of extra-dimension. Since it offers a well-motivated starting point for the study of physics at very high energies, we incorporate an $R^2$ term in the Palatini gravity. In addition, afterward the inflation, the inflaton oscillates about the minimum of the inflation potential, and reheats the universe. This occurs during the reheating phase, at which the inflaton decays into the standard model particles, which fill the universe. We extend our examination by considering the reheating effects on inflationary observables by employing the different scenarios of the reheat temperature. Supposing the standard thermal history after inflation, we display the inflationary predictions, $n_s, r, \mathrm{d}n_s/\mathrm{d}\ln k$ of $\beta$-exponential potential with minimal coupling in Palatini $R^2$ gravity. Also, different kinds of constraints from a variety of observations, such as BICEP/Keck, Planck 2018, as well as future possible detectable sensitivities that might be reached by CMB experiments: CMB-S4 and LiteBIRD are taken into account in this work. We indicate that our results are consistent with both the latest data and the future sensitivity forecasts of LiteBIRD/Planck and CMB-S4. Finally, the results in this study highlight the viability of our model even in the case of the existence of more stringent constraints expected from future achievable confidence level limits.