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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.17074 |
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| _version_ | 1866912074908565504 |
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| author | Laine, M. Procacci, S. Rogelj, A. |
| author_facet | Laine, M. Procacci, S. Rogelj, A. |
| contents | If the inflaton is a heavy scalar field, it may equilibrate slower than some other degrees of freedom, e.g. non-Abelian gauge bosons. In this case, perturbations in the inflaton field and in a thermal plasma coexist from a given moment onwards. We derive a gauge-invariant set of three coupled equations governing the time evolution of such a system. Despite singular coefficients, a reliable numerical solution can be obtained for a long time period, starting from phase oscillations inside the Hubble horizon, and extending until acoustic oscillations in a radiation-dominated universe. Benchmarks are illustrated from a "weak regime", where perturbations have a quantum-mechanical origin but get dissipated by interactions with the plasma. Among applications of our formalism could be inhomogeneity-induced nucleations in post-inflationary phase transitions, and the production of scalar-induced gravitational waves. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_17074 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Evolution of coupled scalar perturbations through smooth reheating. I. Dissipative regime Laine, M. Procacci, S. Rogelj, A. High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics If the inflaton is a heavy scalar field, it may equilibrate slower than some other degrees of freedom, e.g. non-Abelian gauge bosons. In this case, perturbations in the inflaton field and in a thermal plasma coexist from a given moment onwards. We derive a gauge-invariant set of three coupled equations governing the time evolution of such a system. Despite singular coefficients, a reliable numerical solution can be obtained for a long time period, starting from phase oscillations inside the Hubble horizon, and extending until acoustic oscillations in a radiation-dominated universe. Benchmarks are illustrated from a "weak regime", where perturbations have a quantum-mechanical origin but get dissipated by interactions with the plasma. Among applications of our formalism could be inhomogeneity-induced nucleations in post-inflationary phase transitions, and the production of scalar-induced gravitational waves. |
| title | Evolution of coupled scalar perturbations through smooth reheating. I. Dissipative regime |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.17074 |