A Minimal Sub-Planckian Axion Inflation Model with Large Tensor-to-Scalar Ratio

We present a minimal axion inflation model which can generate a large tensor-to-scalar ratio while remaining sub-Planckian. The modulus of a complex scalar field $\Phi$ with a $\lambda |\Phi|^4$ potential couples directly to the gauge field of a strongly-coupled sector via a term of the form $(|\Phi|/M_{Pl})^{m} F \tilde{F}$. This generates a minimum of the potential which is aperiodic in the phase. The resulting inflation model is equivalent to a $\phi^{4/(m+1)}$ chaotic inflation model. For the natural case of a leading-order portal-like interaction $\Phi^{\dagger}\Phi F \tilde{F}$, the model is equivalent to a $\phi^{4/3}$ chaotic inflation model and predicts a tensor-to-scalar ratio $r = 16/3N = 0.097$ and a scalar spectral index $n_{s} = 1-5/3N = 0.970$. The value of $|\Phi|$ remains sub-Planckian throughout the observable era of inflation, with $|\Phi| \lesssim 0.01 M_{Pl}$ for $N \lesssim 60$ when $\lambda \sim 1$.