Compact scalars at the cosmological collider
Abstract We study the dynamics of scalar fields with compact field spaces, or axions, in de Sitter space. We argue that the field space topology can qualitatively affect the physics of these fields beyond just which terms are allowed in their actions. We argue that the sharpest difference is for mas...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of High Energy Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP03(2024)149 |
| _version_ | 1797220060127821824 |
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| author | Priyesh Chakraborty John Stout |
| author_facet | Priyesh Chakraborty John Stout |
| author_sort | Priyesh Chakraborty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We study the dynamics of scalar fields with compact field spaces, or axions, in de Sitter space. We argue that the field space topology can qualitatively affect the physics of these fields beyond just which terms are allowed in their actions. We argue that the sharpest difference is for massless fields — the free massless noncompact scalar field does not admit a two-point function that is both de Sitter-invariant and well-behaved at long distances, while the massless compact scalar does. As proof that this difference can be observable, we show that the long-distance behavior of a heavy scalar field, and thus its cosmological collider signal, can qualitatively change depending on whether it interacts with a light compact or noncompact scalar field. We find an interesting interplay between the circumference of the field space and the Hubble scale. When the field space is much larger than Hubble, the compact field behaves similarly to a light noncompact field and forces the heavy field to dilute much faster than any free field can. However, depending on how much smaller the field space is compared to Hubble, the compact field can cause the heavy scalar to decay either faster or slower than any free field and so we conclude that there can be qualitative and observable consequences of the field space’s topology in inflationary correlation functions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:43:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4fdf85c0a33f474a8fe4b3b2f375d9fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1029-8479 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:43:32Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of High Energy Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-4fdf85c0a33f474a8fe4b3b2f375d9fd2024-04-07T11:06:52ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792024-03-012024314810.1007/JHEP03(2024)149Compact scalars at the cosmological colliderPriyesh Chakraborty0John Stout1Department of Physics, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Physics, Harvard UniversityAbstract We study the dynamics of scalar fields with compact field spaces, or axions, in de Sitter space. We argue that the field space topology can qualitatively affect the physics of these fields beyond just which terms are allowed in their actions. We argue that the sharpest difference is for massless fields — the free massless noncompact scalar field does not admit a two-point function that is both de Sitter-invariant and well-behaved at long distances, while the massless compact scalar does. As proof that this difference can be observable, we show that the long-distance behavior of a heavy scalar field, and thus its cosmological collider signal, can qualitatively change depending on whether it interacts with a light compact or noncompact scalar field. We find an interesting interplay between the circumference of the field space and the Hubble scale. When the field space is much larger than Hubble, the compact field behaves similarly to a light noncompact field and forces the heavy field to dilute much faster than any free field can. However, depending on how much smaller the field space is compared to Hubble, the compact field can cause the heavy scalar to decay either faster or slower than any free field and so we conclude that there can be qualitative and observable consequences of the field space’s topology in inflationary correlation functions.https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP03(2024)149de Sitter spaceGauge SymmetryNonperturbative Effects |
| spellingShingle | Priyesh Chakraborty John Stout Compact scalars at the cosmological collider Journal of High Energy Physics de Sitter space Gauge Symmetry Nonperturbative Effects |
| title | Compact scalars at the cosmological collider |
| title_full | Compact scalars at the cosmological collider |
| title_fullStr | Compact scalars at the cosmological collider |
| title_full_unstemmed | Compact scalars at the cosmological collider |
| title_short | Compact scalars at the cosmological collider |
| title_sort | compact scalars at the cosmological collider |
| topic | de Sitter space Gauge Symmetry Nonperturbative Effects |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP03(2024)149 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT priyeshchakraborty compactscalarsatthecosmologicalcollider AT johnstout compactscalarsatthecosmologicalcollider |