Features in the primordial power spectrum of double D-term inflation

TL;DR

This paper numerically investigates the primordial power spectrum in double D-term inflation models, revealing complex features and potential non-Gaussian spikes caused by phase transitions during inflation.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical simulation approach for quantum fluctuations in double D-term inflation, accounting for spinodal modes and transition effects, advancing beyond previous slow-roll approximations.

Findings

Primordial spectrum exhibits rich structure with possible non-Gaussian spikes.

Semi-classical approximation remains valid during phase transitions.

Numerical results differ from analytic slow-roll predictions.

Abstract

Recently, there has been some interest for building supersymmetric models of double inflation. These models, realistic from a particle physics point of view, predict a broken-scale-invariant power spectrum of primordial cosmological perturbations, that may explain eventual non-trivial features in the present matter power spectrum. In previous works, the primordial spectrum was calculated using analytic slow-roll approximations. However, these models involve a fast second-order phase transition during inflation, with a stage of spinodal instability, and an interruption of slow-roll. For our previous model of double D-term inflation, we simulate numerically the evolution of quantum fluctuations, taking into account the spinodal modes, and we show that the semi-classical approximation can be employed even during the transition, due to the presence of a second inflaton field. The primordial power spectrum possesses a rich structure, and possibly, a non-Gaussian spike on observable scales.