arXiv · 2604.09843
Induced Multi-phase Inflation with Reheating: Leptogenesis and Dark Matter Production in Metric versus Palatini
Abstract
We study non-minimally coupled scalar-induced multi-phase inflation in metric and Palatini gravity, considering linear, Brans-Dicke-like, and Higgs-like sectors. The scalar spectral index lies in the range \( n_s \simeq 0.93 \ \text{--} \ 0.98 \), consistent with \textit{Planck} and combined \textit{Planck}+ACT data. The tensor-to-scalar ratio can reach \( r \sim 0.03 \) in metric, whereas Palatini models generically predict \( r \lesssim 10^{-5} \). In the Palatini case, field excursions remain sub-Planckian, and the perturbative unitarity cutoff is raised. Reheating proceeds via perturbative inflaton decays into Higgs bosons and fermionic dark matter (DM) through the portal coupling \( \lambda_{12} \) and Yukawa coupling \( y_\chi \). Radiative stability of the inflationary plateau constrains the couplings to \( y_\chi, \lambda_{12} \sim 10^{-7} \ \text{--} \ 10^{-3} \), implying \( 4\,\mathrm{MeV} \lesssim T_{\rm rh} \lesssim 10^{15}\,\mathrm{GeV} \). Palatini realizations require smaller couplings and thus a narrower reheating window. Non-thermal DM production $\chi$ from inflaton decays is viable for DM mass \( m_\chi \sim \mathrm{keV} \ \text{--} \ \mathrm{PeV} \) with \( y_\chi \lesssim 10^{-6} \) over large parameter regions. We estimate the inflaton-right-handed neutrino (RHN) Yukawa coupling \( y_N \) required for successful baryogenesis via non-thermal leptogenesis within a Type-I seesaw framework, for the lightest RHN mass \( M_{N_1} \sim 10^{9} \ \text{--} \ 10^{14}\,\mathrm{GeV} \), provided \( M_{N_1} > T_{\rm max} \), where \( T_{\rm max} \) follows from radiatively consistent reheating. In Palatini scenarios, the lower maximal temperature and tighter stability bounds further restrict the leptogenesis parameter space.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Nilay Bostan, Rafid H. Dejrah, Anish Ghoshal, Zygmunt Lalak. 2026-04-10. Induced Multi-phase Inflation with Reheating: Leptogenesis and Dark Matter Production in Metric versus Palatini. https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.09843
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.