A field range bound for general single-field inflation
Journal
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Journal Volume
2012
Journal Issue
5
Date Issued
2012-05-01
Author(s)
Green, Daniel
Abstract
We explore the consequences of a detection of primordial tensor fluctuations for general single-field models of inflation. Using the effective theory of inflation, we propose a generalization of the Lyth bound that applies to models of inflation coupled to Einstein gravity. Our strongest bound applies to all single-field models with two-derivative kinetic terms for the scalar fluctuations and is always stronger than the corresponding bound for slow-roll models. This shows that non-trivial dynamics of the inflaton can't evade the Lyth bound. We also present a weaker, but more universal bound that holds when the Null Energy Condition (NEC) is satisfied at horizon crossing. © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd and Sissa Medialab srl.
Subjects
gravitational waves and CMBR polarization | inflation
Type
journal article