Cosmic Perturbations from a Rotating Field

Abstract

Complex scalar fields charged under approximate $U(1)$ symmetries appear in well-motivated extensions of the Standard Model. One example is the field that contains the QCD axion field associated with the Peccei-Quinn symmetry; others include flat directions in supersymmetric theories with baryon, lepton, or flavor charges. These fields may take on large values and rotate in field space in the early universe. The relevant approximate $U(1)$ symmetry ensures that the angular direction of the complex field is light during inflation and that the rotation is thermodynamically stable and is long-lived. These properties allow rotating complex scalar fields to naturally serve as curvatons and explain the observed perturbations of the universe. The scenario imprints non-Gaussianity in the curvature perturbations, likely at a level detectable in future large scale structure observations. The rotation can also explain the baryon asymmetry of the universe without producing excessive isocurvature perturbations.

39 pages + references, 4 figures

References in corpus (20)

• Cosmology with the SPHEREX All-Sky Spectral Survey
• Dynamics of oscillating scalar field in thermal environment
• Gravitational Wave and CMB Probes of Axion Kination
• Predictions for Axion Couplings from ALP Cogenesis
• Axion Kinetic Misalignment and Parametric Resonance from Inflation
• Gravitational Waves and Dark Photon Dark Matter from Axion Rotations
• Lepto-Axiogenesis
• Moduli decay in the hot early Universe
• Wash-In Leptogenesis
• Non-Gaussianity from Axionic Curvaton
• Axiogenesis from $SU(2{)}_R$ phase transition
• Lepto-axiogenesis in minimal SUSY KSVZ model
• Composite neutrinos and the QCD axion: baryogenesis, dark matter, small Dirac neutrino masses, and vanishing neutron EDM
• Affleck-Dine Baryogenesis, Condensate Fragmentation and Gravitino Dark Matter in Gauge-Mediation with a Large Messenger Mass
• Leptoflavorgenesis: baryon asymmetry of the Universe from lepton flavor violation
• Curvature Perturbation from Supersymmetric Flat Directions
• Fate of thermal log type Q balls
• Formation of the Q ball in the thermal logarithmic potential and its properties
• Axionlike Origin of the Primordial Density Perturbation
• New Inflation in the Landscape and Typicality of the Observed Cosmic Perturbation

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Axion Poltergeist
• QCD Axion Kinetic Misalignment without Prejudice
• Charge transfer between rotating complex scalar fields
• Non-Gaussianity from explicit $U(1)$-breaking interactions