CMB constraints on monodromy inflation at strong coupling. Issue 9 (1st September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Copeland, Edmund J.; Cunillera, Francesc; Moss, Adam; Padilla, Antonio
• Is Part Of: Journal of cosmology and astroparticle physics. Volume 2022:Issue 9(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09-01
• Subjects: inflation -- physics of the early universe -- string theory and cosmology -- transplanckian physics; Cosmology -- Periodicals; Astrophysics -- Periodicals; 523.0105
• DOI: 10.1088/1475-7516/2022/09/080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-7516

Abstract

Abstract: We carry out a thorough numerical examination of field theory monodromy inflation at strong coupling. We perform an MCMC analysis using a Gaussian likelihood, fitting multiparameter models using CMB constraints on the spectral index and the tensor to scalar ratio. We show that models with uniquely positive Wilson coefficients are ruled out. If there are coefficients that can take on both signs, there can be a cancellation of terms that flattens the potentials and allows one to satisfy current data, and forecasts with strong constraints on the tensor to scalar ratio. Models of field theory monodromy are naturally enhanced to include a mechanism for canceling off radiative corrections to vacuum energy, via vacuum energy sequestering (VES). Although they include a much larger parameter space, we find that a similar numerical examination yields no significant change in the Bayesian evidence for VES enhanced models, with naturalness considerations making them more attractive from a theoretical perspective.