One-loop integration of a heavy fermion with inflaton-dependent mass in axion inflation generates localized gauge-field production and a detectable chiral gravitational-wave signal in the deci-hertz range.
Gravitational waves from axion inflation in the gradient expansion formalism. Part I. Pure axion inflation
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abstract
Axion inflation is a well-motivated model of cosmic inflation with a rich phenomenology. The abundant production of gauge fields during axion inflation notably sources a stochastic gravitational-wave (GW) background signal, which nourishes the hope that future GW searches might have a chance to probe the model. In this paper, we scrutinize GW production during axion inflation in the gradient expansion formalism (GEF), a powerful numerical technique that captures the nonlinear dynamics of the system in the limit of vanishing axion gradients. We focus on {single-field} axion inflation coupled to a pure Abelian gauge sector, i.e., pure axion inflation (PAI), and perform the first-ever {detailed} parameter scan of GW production in the Abelian PAI model close to the onset of strong backreaction. {We approximate the axion potential around its minimum by a quadratic mass term and study the tensor modes that exit the Hubble horizon as the axion rolls down this potential.} Remarkably enough, we find that GW signals within the reach of future GW interferometers can only be realized in parameter regions that also lead to strong backreaction and that are in conflict with the upper limit on $\Delta N_{\rm eff}$, i.e., the allowed energy density of dark radiation. This observation defines a clear target for future lattice studies of axion inflation that may confirm or improve the predictions of our GEF benchmark.
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Induced gravitational waves during inflation obey a universal tensor spectral index formula that yields near scale-invariance for slow-roll expansion regardless of the source field's original spectrum.
Schwinger fermion production in axion inflation damps gauge fields, enabling observable primordial gravitational waves in LISA/ET bands while satisfying ΔN_eff limits and identifying a new damped-oscillation backreaction regime.
PBHs generated by axion inflation with gauge-field coupling can comprise all dark matter in the asteroidal mass range while producing a LISA-measurable stochastic GW background.
citing papers explorer
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Axion Inflation from Heavy-Fermion One-Loop Effects
One-loop integration of a heavy fermion with inflaton-dependent mass in axion inflation generates localized gauge-field production and a detectable chiral gravitational-wave signal in the deci-hertz range.
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A universal scaling law for gravitational waves induced during inflation
Induced gravitational waves during inflation obey a universal tensor spectral index formula that yields near scale-invariance for slow-roll expansion regardless of the source field's original spectrum.
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Gravitational waves from axion inflation in the gradient expansion formalism. Part II. Fermionic axion inflation
Schwinger fermion production in axion inflation damps gauge fields, enabling observable primordial gravitational waves in LISA/ET bands while satisfying ΔN_eff limits and identifying a new damped-oscillation backreaction regime.
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Primordial black hole dark matter from axion inflation
PBHs generated by axion inflation with gauge-field coupling can comprise all dark matter in the asteroidal mass range while producing a LISA-measurable stochastic GW background.