arXiv subjects

Kunio Kaneta

Publications and source records attributed to Kunio Kaneta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Post-Reheating Inflaton Production as a Probe of Reheating Dynamics

Cosmological reheating bridges the inflationary epoch and the hot big bang phase, yet its underlying dynamics remain poorly understood. In this work, we investigate a minimal scenario in which the inflaton evolves under a simple power-law potential during reheating and interacts with other particles via renormalizable couplings. We show that inflaton quanta can be regenerated from the thermal bath even after the decay of the coherent inflaton field, unveiling a previously overlooked channel for inflaton particle production, which offers a novel window into probing reheating via consistency with observations and laboratory experiments. Remarkably, this mechanism may also account for the observed dark matter abundance, providing a natural link between early Universe dynamics and present-day cosmological observations.

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arXiv2026

Inflaton Regeneration via Scalar Couplings: Generic Models and the Higgs Portal

The standard cosmological paradigm assumes that the inflaton field becomes dynamically negligible during the post-reheating evolution of the Universe. We demonstrate that this assumption fails for a broad class of inflationary models where the potential behaves as a monomial form $V(ϕ) \propto ϕ^k$ (with $k \ge 4$) around the minimum. In such scenarios, the effective inflaton mass depends on the field amplitude and vanishes asymptotically as the Universe expands. This vanishing-mass mechanism renders the inflaton kinematically accessible to the thermal plasma long after reheating, facilitating the regeneration of inflaton quanta through 1-to-2 decays and 2-to-2 scatterings of bath particles. This mechanism is quite generic and the coupling responsible for reheating can be constrained if the inflaton is overproduced, while the inflaton quanta can constitute dark matter in specific scenarios. Furthermore, if reheating occurs via the Standard Model Higgs portal, the process can be further constrained by big bang nucleosynthesis, cosmic microwave background, and colliders such as the LHC. This mechanism provides a new framework for probing post-inflationary reheating.

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arXiv2026

Radiative Corrections and Reheating in Supergravity Models of Inflation

We consider the effects of radiative corrections in Starobinsky-like models of inflation, concentrating on models of inflation formulated in N=1 no-scale supergravity. Inflaton couplings to matter fields are necessary for reheating and these have an impact on loop corrections to the inflaton potential. Whilst corrections due to the supergravity couplings of the inflaton to Standard Model (MSSM) fields are negligible, we use {\it Planck} data to obtain interesting constraints on GUT bilinear couplings, vevs, and gauge boson masses that could be sharpened by future CMB measurements.

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arXiv2026

Gravitational waves from supermassive right-handed neutrinos produced at preheating

The post-inflationary production of supermassive particles can have profound implications for the thermal history of the universe and may leave observable imprints in the gravitational wave (GW) background. In scenarios where the inflaton couples predominantly to heavy fields, say right-handed neutrino (RHN), non-perturbative mechanisms such as parametric resonance can lead to their efficient production, even when their masses exceed the inflaton mass. Once produced, the RHNs emit gravitons through bremsstrahlung as they decay into the Standard Model (SM) particles via $N\rightarrow \ell + H$, enabled by the unavoidable minimal coupling to gravity, sourcing a stochastic GW background. We study this mechanism within the framework of $α-$attractor inflationary models, highlighting how the resulting GW spectrum carries indirect imprints of the heavy sector and the post-inflationary dynamics. This offers an observational window into otherwise inaccessible supermassive particles and provides a powerful probe of high-scale physics beyond the SM.

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arXiv2026

Radiative Corrections in Supergravity Models of Inflation

Supergravity provides the natural supersymmetric framework for early universe cosmology. A broad class of inflationary models in no-scale supergravity yields tree-level predictions for cosmic microwave background (CMB) observables that closely resemble those of the Starobinsky $R + R^2$ model. Using results from global supersymmetry and supergravity, we analyze radiative corrections in models with canonical and non-canonical kinetic terms, focusing particularly on Starobinsky-like no-scale supergravity models. We derive conditions on the superpotential that keep the gravitino mass finite during inflation and ensure that loop-induced corrections to the Kähler potential remain either finite or subdominant relative to the tree-level potential. We show that in some models, most notably the original no-scale supergravity model with a Wess-Zumino superpotential, radiative corrections grow at large inflaton field values and can dominate the inflationary dynamics, rendering unreliable the model predictions for CMB data. However, we identify a class of no-scale Starobinsky-like models, including the Cecotti model, in which radiative corrections remain very small for inflaton field values $\lesssim 8$ (in Planck units), preserving the agreement of the tree-level predictions with Planck CMB data.

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arXiv2025

Gravitational Production of Spin-3/2 Particles During Reheating

We compute the density of a spin-$\frac32$ particle, the raritron, produced at the end of inflation due to gravitational interactions. We consider a background inflaton condensate as the source of this production, mediated by the exchange of a graviton. This production greatly exceeds the gravitational production from the emergent thermal bath during reheating. The relic abundance limit sets an absolute minimum mass for a stable raritron, though there are also model dependent constraints imposed by unitarity. We also examine the case of gravitational production of a gravitino, taking into account the goldstino evolution during reheating. We compare these results with conventional gravitino production mechanisms.

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arXiv2025

Effects of Radiative Corrections on Starobinsky Inflation

We analyze radiative corrections to the Starobinsky model of inflation arising from self-interactions of the inflaton, and from its Yukawa couplings, $y$, to matter fermions, and dimensionful trilinear couplings, $κ$, to scalar fields, which could be responsible for reheating the Universe after inflation. The inflaton self-interactions are found to be of higher order in the Hubble expansion rate during inflation, and hence unimportant for CMB observations. In contrast, matter couplings to the Starobinsky inflaton can have significant effects on the spectral index of scalar CMB perturbations, $n_s$, and on the tensor-to-scalar ratio, $r$. Using a renormalization-group improved analysis of the effective inflationary potential, we find that the Planck measurement of $n_s$ constrains the inflaton coupling to light fermions in the Einstein frame: $y < 4.5 \times 10^{-4}$, corresponding to an upper limit on the reheating temperature $T_{\rm RH} < 2 \times 10^{11}~{\rm GeV}$, whereas the ACT DR6 measurement of $n_s$ corresponds to $3.8 \times 10^{-4} < y < 5.6 \times 10^{-4}$ and $1.7 \times 10^{11} ~{\rm GeV} < T_{\rm RH} < 2.8 \times 10^{11}~{\rm GeV}$, while the upper limits on $r$ provide weaker constraints. Planck data also imply a constraint on a trilinear inflaton coupling to light scalars in the Einstein frame: $κ\leq 4 \times 10^{12}~{\rm GeV}$, corresponding to $T_{\rm RH} \leq 4.2 \times 10^{13}~{\rm GeV}$. We further present constraints on inflaton couplings to massive fermions and scalars, and analyze constraints on couplings in the Jordan frame.

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arXiv2025

Dark energy under a gauge symmetry: A review of gauged quintessence and its implications

We review the gauged quintessence scenario, wherein the quintessence scalar field responsible for dark energy is promoted to a complex field charged under a dark $U(1)$ gauge symmetry. This construction leads to new and potentially rich cosmological phenomenology. After a concise recap of the standard quintessence scenario, we highlight how a $U(1)$ gauge invariance alters the dynamics of the scalar and the associated dark gauge boson. We survey the evolution of both fields across cosmic history, discuss their possible production via a misalignment mechanism, and examine implications for the Hubble tension. We also comment on potential non-gravitational signals of gauged quintessence through kinetic mixing (the dark photon vector portal).

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arXiv2025

Observational tests for a class of scalar-tensor gravity

We study observational bounds in a class of scalar-tensor gravity theories recently proposed. Either an upper or lower bound on a conformal factor in these theories is derived from null observation in composition dependent fifth force search, microscope mission. The important case of a lower bound implies that future improved observations have chances of verifying this class of theories. Future prospect for a particular type of observation is mentioned. The considered class of scalar-tensor gravity was shown elsewhere to explain the conversion of inflationary early phase to late time quintessence type dark energy.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

A common origin of two accelerating universes: inflation and dark energy

We develop a quantum theory of inflaton and its decay product of various gauge boson pairs to investigate the preheating towards thermalized universe. The inflaton decay into gauge-boson pairs is shown to be inevitably accompanied by tachyon-mass-like correction to inflation potential that ultimately leads to an inflaton escape out of trapped local potential minimum towards the field infinity. This gives rise to a conversion mechanism of early inflationary acceleration to a quintessence dark energy acceleration at late stages of cosmic evolution. The success of the escape depends on how standard particles are incorporated into a scheme of extended Jordan-Brans-Dicke gravity. New types of super-radiance mechanism that enhance the ending of preheating are identified and compared with the Dicke model.

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arXiv2024

Parametrically amplified super-radiance towards hot big bang universe

We propose a mechanism of preheating stage after inflation, using a new idea of parametrically amplified super-radiance. Highly coherent state, characterized by macro-coherence of scalar field coupled to produced massless particle in pairs, is created by parametric resonance effects associated with field oscillation around its potential minimum, within a Hubble volume. The state is described effectively by the simple Dicke-type of super-radiance model, and super-radiant pulse is emitted within a Hubble time, justifying neglect of cosmic expansion. Produced particles are shown to interact to change their energy and momentum distribution to realize thermal hot big bang universe. A long standing problem of heating after inflation may thus be solved. A new dark matter candidate produced at the emergence of thermalized universe is suggested as well.

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arXiv2024

Accelerating universe at early and late times in extended Jordan-Brans-Dicke gravity

We propose a scenario that can explain the early-time inflation and the late-time dark energy within a unified framework. A scalar potential combining power-law and exponential type in a context of extended Jordan-Brans-Dicke gravity is critically important for this realization. A realistic scenario can be achieved in a two-field model in which one directional motion in field space realizes the slow-roll inflation. The inflaton ends up with oscillatory period and turns its direction to another direction that is identified as the quintessence field, giving rise to the dark energy at late times. The inflaton oscillation is expected to realize efficient heating if parametric amplification works. Along the quintessence direction, the present universe is on the way to reach the asymptotic fixed point. We search for successful parameter region, taking potential function in the form of low-order field powers times decreasing exponential in two dimensional field space.

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arXiv2024

Pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone Boson Production from Inflaton Coupling during Reheating

The existence of pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) fields is a common feature in many models beyond the Standard Model, characterized by their exclusive derivative couplings. This paper investigates a scenario where a pNGB is coupled to the inflaton field during the reheating phase of the early universe. We calculate the perturbative decay rate of a coherently oscillating inflaton into pNGBs on a general basis, considering both constant and field-dependent couplings with monomial potentials at the minimum. As a concrete application, we explore the production of axions when the radial mode of the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) scalar serves as the inflaton, particularly in the presence of a large gravitational non-minimal coupling. Our findings suggest that the presence of pNGBs during reheating can lead to significant non-thermal relics, offering new constraints on inflationary reheating models and providing potential observational signatures in the form of dark radiation.

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arXiv2024

Gravitational Waves from Particle Decays during Reheating

Gravitational waves have become an irreplaceable tool for exploring the post-inflationary universe. Their cosmological and astrophysical origins have been attracting numerous attention. In this Letter, we point out a novel source of ultra-high frequency gravitational waves: the decay of particles produced during the reheating era. We highlight the decay of the Higgs boson as a representative case, showing how it yields a testable gravitational wave spectrum by future observations.

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arXiv2024

Non-gravitational signals of dark energy under a gauge symmetry

We investigate non-gravitational signals of dark energy within the framework of gauge symmetry in the dark energy sector. Traditionally, dark energy has been primarily studied through gravitational effects within general relativity or its extensions. On the other hand, the gauge principles have played a central role in the standard model sector and dark matter sector. If the dark energy field operates under a gauge symmetry, it introduces the possibility of studying all major components of the present universe under the same gauge principle. This approach marks a significant shift from conventional methodologies, offering a new avenue to explore dark energy.

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arXiv2023

The Role of Vectors in Reheating

We explore various aspects concerning the role of vector bosons during the reheating process. Generally, reheating occurs during the period of oscillations of the inflaton condensate and the evolution of the radiation bath depends on the inflaton equation of state. For oscillations about a quadratic minimum, the equation of state parameter, $w = p/ρ=0$, and the evolution of the temperature, $T(a)$ with respect to the scale factor is independent of the spin of the inflaton decay products. However, for cases when $w>0$, there is a dependence on the spin, and here we consider the evolution when the inflaton decays or scatters to vector bosons. We also investigate the gravitational production of vector bosons as potential dark matter candidates. Gravitational production predominantly occurs through the longitudinal mode. We compare these results to the gravitational production of scalars.

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arXiv2023

Constraints on extended Jordan-Brans-Dicke gravity

Cosmological analysis of extended Jordan-Brans-Dicke (eJBD) gravity is presented in the Einstein metric frame in which gravitational interaction is readily understandable. Our formulation is the first systematic investigation of how to introduce lagrangian of standard particle physics in eJBD framework consistently with the general principle of spontaneously broken gauge symmetry, which makes it possible to confront eJBD-based cosmology with observational and laboratory bounds on time variation of parameters, masses, and coupling constants, caused by time evolution of eJBD fields. Decomposition of standard particle physics lagrangian into independent gauge invariant pieces is proposed to avoid serious conflict that may arise from standard lagrangian transformed from the Jordan frame. Independent conformal factors are assigned to each of five gauge invariant pieces. The formulation is most unambiguously made possible by defining fields having canonical kinetic terms that allow us to use the canonical quantization rule of field theory. This construction gives as one of its consequences the canonical eJBD field $χ$ that couples to the universal fermion current, a linear combination of baryon and lepton number currents, $\partial_μ χ(\frac{1}{3} j_B^μ + j_L^μ)$, in addition to the conventional trace of the energy-momentum tensor. Field equation of eJBD field along with gravitational equation is analyzed by using a simplified polynomial class of potential and conformal functions, giving time evolution of radiation, matter and dark energy densities consistent with observations when an appropriate set of model parameters are used. Finite temperature corrections are further calculated to give temperature dependent terms in eJBD field potential.

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arXiv2023

Misalignment mechanism for a mass-varying vector boson

A coherent field over the entire universe is an attractive picture in studying the dark sector of the universe. The misalignment mechanism, which relies on inflation to achieve homogeneousness of the field, is a popular mechanism for producing such a coherent dark matter. Nevertheless, unlike a scalar field case, a vector boson field suffers because its energy density is exponentially suppressed by the scale factor during the cosmic expansion. We show that if the vector field gets a mass from a scalar field, whose value increases by orders of magnitude, the suppression can be compensated, and the misalignment can produce the coherent vector boson that has a sizable amount of energy density in the present universe. Quintessence can be such a scalar field.

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