Get started
Work

Constraining monodromy inflation

Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: We use cosmic microwave background (CMB) data from the 9-year WMAP release to derive constraints on monodromy inflation, which is characterized by a linear inflaton potential with a periodic modulation. We identify two possible periodic modulations that significantly improve the fit, lowering χ 2 by approximately 10 and 20. However, standard Bayesian model selection criteria assign roughly equal odds to the modulated potential and the unmodulated case. A modulated inflationary potential can generate substantial primordial non-Gaussianity with a specific and characteristic form. For the best-fit parameters to the WMAP angular power spectrum, the corresponding non-Gaussianity might be detectable in upcoming CMB data, allowing nontrivial consistency checks on the predictions of a modulated inflationary potential.
DOI: 10.1088/1475-7516/2013/09/018
Institutions: University of California, Santa Barbara, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University College London, University of Auckland, Institute for Advanced Study, New York University
Language: English
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Leverhulme Trust, University of Auckland, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Science and Technology Facilities Council
OpenAlex ID: W2037999844
FWCI: 7.034
Cites: 46
Cited by: 82
Related to: 10