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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.12849 |
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| _version_ | 1866918267963047936 |
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| author | Laine, M. Procacci, S. Rogelj, A. |
| author_facet | Laine, M. Procacci, S. Rogelj, A. |
| contents | Curvature perturbations with short wavelengths exit the Hubble horizon when the universe may contain a thermal plasma in addition to an inflaton field that drives its expansion. We solve the corresponding fluctuation-dissipation dynamics at linear order, building upon a previously established set of gauge-invariant evolution equations. The properties of the noise autocorrelator are constrained via a matching of equilibrium correlators to quantum-statistical physics deep inside the Hubble horizon. The curvature power spectrum is determined numerically, without slow-roll approximations or assumptions about the equilibration of the inflaton field. As applications, we scrutinize two issues from recent literature: the model dependence of the thermally modified power spectrum as a function of freeze-out parameters, and the viability of embedding warm inflation within the Standard Model (we offer support for the latter proposal). The role of pre-horizon-exit acoustic oscillations is illustrated. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_12849 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Evolution of coupled scalar perturbations through smooth reheating. II. Thermal fluctuation regime Laine, M. Procacci, S. Rogelj, A. High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Curvature perturbations with short wavelengths exit the Hubble horizon when the universe may contain a thermal plasma in addition to an inflaton field that drives its expansion. We solve the corresponding fluctuation-dissipation dynamics at linear order, building upon a previously established set of gauge-invariant evolution equations. The properties of the noise autocorrelator are constrained via a matching of equilibrium correlators to quantum-statistical physics deep inside the Hubble horizon. The curvature power spectrum is determined numerically, without slow-roll approximations or assumptions about the equilibration of the inflaton field. As applications, we scrutinize two issues from recent literature: the model dependence of the thermally modified power spectrum as a function of freeze-out parameters, and the viability of embedding warm inflation within the Standard Model (we offer support for the latter proposal). The role of pre-horizon-exit acoustic oscillations is illustrated. |
| title | Evolution of coupled scalar perturbations through smooth reheating. II. Thermal fluctuation regime |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Phenomenology |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.12849 |