arXiv subjects

Ogan Özsoy

Publications and source records attributed to Ogan Özsoy.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Scale-dependent chirality as a smoking gun for Abelian gauge fields during inflation

Axion-inflation models are a compelling candidate as a mechanism behind the accelerated expansion in the early universe in light of the possibility to embed them in higher dimensional UV complete theories and the exciting prospect of testing them with next-generation cosmological probes. Adding an Abelian gauge sector to axion-inflation models makes for a rich, interesting, phenomenology spanning from primordial black holes to gravitational waves (GWs). Several recent studies employ an approximate analytic (Gaussian) template to characterize the effect of gauge field production on cosmological perturbations. In this work we go beyond such approximation and numerically study particle production and the ensuing scalar and tensor spectra. We find a significant deviation from results based on log-normally distributed vector field excitations. As an important phenomenological application of the improved method, we study the expected chirality and spectral index of the sourced GW background at scales relevant for current and next-generation GW detectors. One striking feature is that of a scale-dependent chirality. We derive a consistency relation between these two observables that can serve as an important tool in identifying key signatures of multi-field dynamics in axion inflation.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

A universal constraint on axion non-Abelian dynamics during inflation

Inflationary models equipped with Chern-Simons coupling between their axion and gauge sectors exhibit an array of interesting signals including a testable chiral gravitational wave spectrum. The energy injection in the gauge sector triggered by the rolling axion leads to a well-studied enhancement of gauge field fluctuations. These may in turn affect observables such as the scalar and tensor spectra and also account for non-linear corrections to field propagators. In this work, we focus on non-Abelian gauge sectors. We show that gauge field self-interactions and axion-gauge field non-linear couplings significantly renormalize the gauge field mode function. Operating within the regime of validity of the perturbative treatment places strong constraints on the accessible parameter space of this class of models. We calculate corrections to the gauge field propagator that are universally present in these scenarios. Enforcing perturbativity on such propagators leads to bounds that are competitive with those stemming from analytical estimates on the onset of the strong backreaction regime.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Vector dark matter, inflation and non-minimal couplings with gravity

We propose a cosmological dark matter production mechanism in the form of a longitudinal massive vector boson. We build upon the work of Graham et.al. including non-minimal couplings of the massive vector with gravity, developing a well motivated set-up from an effective field theory perspective. We carefully track the dynamics of vector field in passing from inflation to radiation dominated universe to show that the late time abundance of longitudinal modes -- excited initially by the quantum fluctuations during inflation -- can provide the observed dark matter abundance for sufficiently weak non-minimal coupling and wide range of vector masses $5 \times 10^{-7} \lesssim m\, [{\rm eV}] \lesssim 5 \times 10^{3}$. The final abundance of dark matter depends on two parameter, the vector mass and its non-minimal coupling with gravity. We discuss experimental venues to probe this framework, including the production of a stochastic gravitational wave background. The latter is especially interesting, as the same mechanism that generates dark matter can potentially lead to the production of gravitational waves in the LISA frequency band, through the second-order effects of large dark matter iso-curvature perturbations at small scales. We take a first step in this direction, identifying the potential information that gravitational wave experiments can provide on the parameter space of dark matter within this scenario.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Inflation and Primordial Black Holes

We review conceptual aspects of inflationary scenarios able to produce primordial black holes, by amplifying the size of curvature fluctuations to the level required for triggering black hole formation. We identify general mechanisms to do so, both for single and multiple field inflation. In single field inflation, the spectrum of curvature fluctuations is enhanced by pronounced gradients of background quantities controlling the cosmological dynamics, which can induce brief phases of non--slow-roll inflationary evolution. In multiple field inflation, the amplification occurs through appropriate couplings with additional sectors, characterized by tachyonic instabilities that enhance the size of their fluctuations. As representative examples, we consider axion inflation, and two-field models of inflation with rapid turns in field space. We develop our discussion in a pedagogical manner, by including some of the most relevant calculations, and by guiding the reader through the existing theoretical literature, emphasizing general themes common to several models.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

New constraints on axion-gauge field dynamics during inflation from $Planck$ and BICEP/Keck data sets

We present new constraints on spectator axion-${\rm U}(1)$ gauge field interactions during inflation using the latest $Planck$ (PR4) and BICEP/Keck 2018 data releases. This model can source tensor perturbations from amplified gauge field fluctuations, driven by an axion rolling for a few e-folds during inflation. The gravitational waves sourced in this way have a strongly scale-dependent (and chiral) spectrum, with potentially visible contributions to large/intermediate scale $B$-modes of the CMB. We first derive theoretical bounds on the model imposing validity of the perturbative regime and negligible backreaction of the gauge field on the background dynamics. Then, we determine bounds from current CMB observations, adopting a frequentist profile likelihood approach. We study the behaviour of constraints for typical choices of the model's parameters, analyzing the impact of different dataset combinations. We find that observational bounds are competitive with theoretical ones and together they exclude a significant portion of the model's parameter space. We argue that the parameter space still remains large and interesting for future CMB experiments targeting large/intermediate scales $B$-modes.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Parity Violating Non-Gaussianity from Axion-Gauge Field Dynamics

We study scalar-tensor-tensor and tensor-scalar-scalar three point cross correlations generated by the dynamics of a transiently rolling spectator axion-$\mathrm U(1)$ gauge field model during inflation. In this framework, tensor and scalar fluctuations are sourced by gauge fields at the non-linear level due to gravitational interactions, providing a chiral background of gravitational waves while keeping the level of scalar fluctuations at the observationally viable levels at CMB scales. We show that the gravitational couplings between the observable sector and gauge fields can also mediate strong correlations between scalar and tensor fluctuations, generating an amplitude for the mixed type three-point functions that is parametrically larger -- $f_{\rm NL} \simeq \mathcal{O}(1-10) (r/0.01)^{3/2}$-- compared to the single-field realizations of inflation. As the amplification of the gauge field sources are localized around the time of horizon exit, the resulting mixed bispectra are peaked {\it close} to the equilateral configurations. The shape dependence, along with the scale dependence and the parity violating nature of the mixed bispectra can serve as a distinguishing feature of the underlying axion-gauge field dynamics and suggest a careful investigation of their signatures on the CMB observables including cross correlations between temperature T and E,B polarization modes.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Consistency conditions and primordial black holes in single field inflation

We discuss new consistency relations for single field models of inflation capable of generating primordial black holes (PBH), and their observational implications for CMB $μ$-space distortions. These inflationary models include a short period of non-attractor evolution: the scale-dependent profile of curvature perturbation is characterized by a pronounced dip, followed by a rapid growth leading to a peak responsible for PBH formation. We investigate the squeezed and the collapsed limits of three and four point functions of curvature perturbation around the dip, showing that they satisfy consistency relations connecting their values to the total amplification of the curvature spectrum, and to the duration of the non-attractor era. Moreover, the corresponding non-Gaussian parameters are scale-dependent in proximity of the dip, with features that again depend on the amplification of the spectrum. For typical PBH scenarios requiring an order ${\cal O}(10^7)$ enhancement of the spectrum from large towards small scales, we generally find values $f_{\rm NL}^{\rm sq}\,=\,{\cal O}(10)$ and $τ_{\rm NL}^{\rm col}\,=\,{\cal O}(10^3)$ in a range of scales that can be probed by CMB $μ$-space distortions. Using these consistency relations, we carefully analyze how the scale-dependence of non-Gaussian parameters leads to characteristic features in $\langle μT \rangle$ and $\langle μμ\rangle$ correlators, providing distinctive probes of inflationary PBH scenarios that can be tested using well-understood CMB physics.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

CMB $μT$ cross-correlations as a probe of PBH scenarios

We propose a new method for probing inflationary models of primordial black hole (PBH) production, using only CMB physics at relatively large scales. In PBH scenarios, the primordial power spectrum profile for curvature perturbations is characterized by a pronounced dip, followed by a rapid growth towards small scales, leading to a peak responsible for PBH formation. We focus on scales around the dip that are well separated from the peak to analytically compute expressions for the curvature power spectrum and bispectrum. The size of the squeezed bispectrum is enhanced at the position of the dip, and it acquires a characteristic scale dependence that can be probed by cross-correlating CMB $μ$-distortions and temperature fluctuations. We quantitatively study the properties of such cross-correlations and how they depend on the underlying model, discussing how they can be tested by the next generation of CMB $μ$-distortion experiments. This method allows one to experimentally probe inflationary PBH scenarios using well-understood CMB physics, without considering non-linearities associated with PBH formation and evolution.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Synthetic Gravitational Waves from a Rolling Axion Monodromy

In string theory inspired models of axion-like fields, sub-leading non-perturbative effects, if sufficiently large, can introduce steep cliffs and gentle plateaus onto the underlying scalar potential. During inflation, the motion of a spectator axion $σ$ on this potential becomes temporarily fast, leading to localized amplification of one helicity state of gauge fields. In this model, the tensor and scalar correlators sourced by the vector fields exhibit localized peak(s) in momentum space corresponding to the modes that exit the horizon while the roll of $σ$ is fast. Thanks to the gravitational coupling of gauge fields with the visible sector and the localized nature of particle production, this model can generate observable gravitational waves (GWs) at CMB scales while satisfying the current limits on scalar perturbations. The resulting GW signal breaks parity and exhibit sizeable non-Gaussianity that can be probed by future CMB B-mode missions. Depending on the initial conditions and model parameters, the roll of the spectator axion can also generate an observably large GW signature at interferometer scales while respecting the bounds on the scalar fluctuations from primordial black hole limits. In our analysis, we carefully investigate bounds on the model parameters that arise through back-reaction and perturbativity considerations to show that these limits are satisfied by the implementations of the model that generate GW signals at CMB and sub-CMB scales.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Primordial black holes as dark matter and gravitational waves from bumpy axion inflation

We consider a mechanism for producing a significant population of primordial black holes (PBHs) and an observable stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB) within string theory inspired models of inflation. In this framework where inflaton is identified as a non-compact axion-like field, sub-leading non-perturbative effects can superimpose steep cliffs connected by smooth plateaus onto the underlying axion potential. In the presence of coupling to Abelian gauge fields, the motion of axion on the cliff-like region(s) of its potential triggers a localized production of one helicity state of gauge fields due to the temporary fast-roll of axion around such a feature. In this setup, primordial fluctuations sourced by vector fields exhibit a localized peak in momentum space corresponding to modes that exit the horizon when the axion velocity is maximal. As an application of this general mechanism, we present an example of axion inflation which both matches Planck observations at CMB scales and generates a population of light PBHs ($M_{\rm PBH} \simeq 10^{-13} M_{\odot}$) that can account for all dark matter. In this scenario, the enhanced scalar fluctuations that leads to PBHs also generate an observable SGWB of induced origin at LISA scales. The amplitude and shape of the resulting GW signal inherits specific properties (such as non-Gaussianity and its shape) of its scalar sources that may allow us to distinguish this mechanism from other inflationary scenarios and astrophysical backgrounds. This GW signal together with an observation of PBH distribution at the corresponding scales can thus provide a window to the inflationary dynamics on scales much smaller than those probed by Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and Large Scale Structure (LSS) Measurements.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

On the slope of curvature power spectrum in non-attractor inflation

The possibility that primordial black holes constitute a fraction of dark matter motivates a detailed study of possible mechanisms for their production. Black holes can form by the collapse of primordial curvature fluctuations, if the amplitude of their small scale spectrum gets amplified by several orders of magnitude with respect to CMB scales. Such enhancement can for example occur in single-field inflation that exhibit a transient non-attractor phase: in this work, we make a detailed investigation of the shape of the curvature spectrum in this scenario. We make use of an analytical approach based on a gradient expansion of curvature perturbations, which allows us to follow the changes in slope of the spectrum during its way from large to small scales. After encountering a dip in its amplitude, the spectrum can acquire steep slopes with a spectral index up to $n_s-1\,=\,8$, to then relax to a more gentle growth with $n_s-1\,\lesssim\,3$ towards its peak, in agreement with the results found in previous literature. For scales following the peak associated with the presence of the non-attractor phase, the spectrum amplitude then mildly decays, during a transitional stage from non-attractor back to attractor evolution. Our analysis indicates that this gradient approach offers a transparent understanding of the contributions controlling the slope of the curvature spectrum. As an application of our findings, we characterise the slope in frequency of a stochastic gravitational wave background generated at second order from curvature fluctuations, using the more accurate information we gained on the shape of curvature power spectrum.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2019

A new mechanism to enhance primordial tensor fluctuations in single field inflation

We discuss a new mechanism to enhance the spectrum of primordial tensor fluctuations in single field inflationary scenarios. The enhancement relies on a transitory non-attractor inflationary phase, which amplifies the would-be decaying tensor mode, and gives rise to a growth of tensor fluctuations at superhorizon scales. We show that the enhancement produced during this phase can be neatly treated via a tensor duality between an attractor and non-attractor phase, which we introduce. We illustrate the mechanism and duality in a kinetically driven scenario of inflation, with non-minimal couplings between the scalar and the metric.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Mechanisms for Primordial Black Hole Production in String Theory

We consider mechanisms for producing a significant population of primordial black holes (PBHs) within string inspired single field models of inflation. The production of PBHs requires a large amplification in the power spectrum of curvature perturbations between scales associated with CMB and PBH formation. In principle, this can be achieved by temporarily breaking the slow-roll conditions during inflation. In this work, we identify two string setups that can realise this process. In string axion models of inflation, subleading non-perturbative effects can superimpose steep cliffs and gentle plateaus onto the leading axion potential. The cliffs can momentarily violate the slow-roll conditions, and the plateaus can lead to phases of ultra slow-roll inflation. We thus achieve a string motivated model which both matches the Planck observations at CMB scales and produces a population of light PBHs, which can account for an order one fraction of dark matter. In DBI models of inflation, a sharp increase in the speed of sound sourced by a steep downward step in the warp factor can drive the amplification. In this scenario, discovery of PBHs could indicate non-trivial dynamics in the bulk, such as flux-antibrane annihilation at the tip of a warped throat.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

On Synthetic Gravitational Waves from Multi-field Inflation

We revisit the possibility of producing observable tensor modes through a continuous particle production process during inflation. Particularly, we focus on the multi-field realization of inflation where a spectator pseudo-scalar $σ$ induces a significant amplification of the ${\rm U}(1)$ gauge fields through the coupling $\propto σF_{μν}\tilde{F}^{μν}$. In this model, both the scalar $σ$ and the Abelian gauge fields are gravitationally coupled to the inflaton sector, therefore they can only affect the primordial scalar and tensor fluctuations through their mixing with gravitational fluctuations. Recent studies on this scenario show that the sourced contributions to the scalar correlators can be dangerously large to invalidate a large tensor power spectrum through the particle production mechanism. In this paper, we re-examine these recent claims by explicitly calculating the dominant contribution to the scalar power and bispectrum. Particularly, we show that once the current limits from CMB data are taken into account, it is still possible to generate a signal as large as $r \approx 10^{-3}$ and the limitations on the model building are more relaxed than what was considered before.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

A Model Independent Approach to (p)Reheating

In this note we propose a model independent framework for inflationary (p)reheating. Our approach is analogous to the Effective Field Theory of Inflation, however here the inflaton oscillations provide an additional source of (discrete) symmetry breaking. Using the Goldstone field that non-linearly realizes time diffeormorphism invariance we construct a model independent action for both the inflaton and reheating sectors. Utilizing the hierarchy of scales present during the reheating process we are able to recover known results in the literature in a simpler fashion, including the presence of oscillations in the primordial power spectrum. We also construct a class of models where the shift symmetry of the inflaton is preserved during reheating, which helps alleviate past criticisms of (p)reheating in models of Natural Inflation. Extensions of our framework suggest the possibility of analytically investigating non-linear effects (such as rescattering and back-reaction) during thermalization without resorting to lattice methods. By construction, the EFT relates the strength of many of these interactions to other operators in the theory, including those responsible for the efficiency of (p)reheating. We conclude with a discussion of the limitations and challenges for our approach.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

How Well Can We Really Determine the Scale of Inflation?

A detection of primordial B-modes has been heralded not only as a smoking gun for the existence of inflation, but also as a way to establish the scale at which inflation took place. In this paper we critically reinvestigate the connection between a detection of primordial gravity waves and the scale of inflation. We consider whether the presence of additional fields and non-adiabaticity during inflation may have provided an additional source of primordial B-modes competitive with those of the quasi-de Sitter vacuum. In particular, we examine whether the additional sources could provide the dominant signal, which could lead to a misinterpretation of the scale of inflation. In light of constraints on the level of non-Gaussianity coming from Planck we find that only hidden sectors with strictly gravitationally strength couplings provide a feasible mechanism. The required model building is somewhat elaborate, and so we discuss possible UV completions in the context of Type IIB orientifold compactifications with RR axions. We find that an embedding is possible and that dangerous sinusoidal corrections can be suppressed through the compactification geometry. Our main result is that even when additional sources of primordial gravity waves are competitive with the inflaton, a positive B-mode detection would still be a relatively good indicator of the scale of inflation. This conclusion will be strengthened by future constraints on both non-Gaussianity and CMB polarization.

hep-th↗