Physics – High Energy Physics – High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Scientific paper
2008-02-02
Int.J.Mod.Phys.D16:2573-2585,2008
Physics
High Energy Physics
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
To appear in the proceedings of From Quantum to Cosmos: Fundamental Physics Research in Space, Washington, D.C., 22-24 May 200
Scientific paper
10.1142/S0218271807011371
The model of Natural Inflation is examined in light of recent 3-year data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe and shown to provide a good fit. The inflaton potential is naturally flat due to shift symmetries, and in the simplest version takes the form $V(\phi) = \Lambda^4 [1 \pm \cos(N\phi/f)]$. The model agrees with WMAP3 measurements as long as $f > 0.7 m_{Pl}$ (where $m_{Pl} = 1.22 \times 10^{19}$GeV) and $\Lambda \sim m_{GUT}$. The running of the scalar spectral index is shown to be small -- an order of magnitude below the sensitivity of WMAP3. The location of the field in the potential when perturbations on observable scales are produced is examined; for $f > 5 m_{Pl}$, the relevant part of the potential is indistinguishable from a quadratic, yet has the advantage that the required flatness is well-motivated. Depending on the value of $f$, the model falls into the large field ($f \ge 1.5 m_{Pl}$) or small field ($f < 1.5 m_{Pl}$) classification scheme that has been applied to inflation models. Natural inflation provides a good fit to WMAP3 data.
Freese Katherine
Kinney William H.
Savage Christopher
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