Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We propose a generic mechanism applicable to single-field inflaton models in which a light axion spectator, initialized near the hilltop of its potential, reshapes inflationary observables through purely gravitational multi-field dynamics. During inflation the axion is frozen and the background follows an effectively single-field trajectory. After inflation ends, the axion rolls, inducing a turn in field space and transient tachyonic phases of the isocurvature mode. The resulting ``tachyonic encore'' occurs entirely on super-horizon scales. These phases generate a nearly scale-invariant enhancement of the curvature power spectrum, suppressing the tensor-to-scalar ratio and shifting the scalar tilt to a weighted combination of adiabatic and entropic tilts at horizon crossing. We show that these effects can reconcile otherwise disfavored inflaton potentials with current CMB constraints. The same dynamics predict local non-Gaussianity, $f_{\rm NL}^{\rm loc.}\sim \mathcal{O}(1)$, within reach of upcoming surveys.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Agencia Estatal de Investigación
OpenAlex ID: W7164501572