On the Predictivity of Single Field Inflationary Models

 

Dr Subodh Patil
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
 

29 May 2014 (Thursday)
2:00 pm
IAS4042, 4/F, Lo Ka Chung Building, Lee Shau Kee Campus, HKUST

Abstract:

Predictivity, traditionally defined, means explaining a range of observations with a smaller number of parameters. In the context of effective field theory, it means having to fix only a small number of operator coefficients to predict amplitudes up to a certain energy scale. The speaker re-examines the predictiveness of single-field inflationary models and discusses how an unknown UV completion can complicate determining inflationary model parameters from observations, even from precision measurements. Besides the usual naturalness issues associated with having a shallow inflationary potential, he describes another issue for inflation, namely, unknown UV physics modifies the running of Standard Model (SM) parameters and thereby introduces uncertainty into the potential inflationary predictions. He illustrates this point using the minimal Higgs Inflationary scenario, which is arguably the most predictive single-field model on the market, because its predictions for As, r and ns are made using only one new free parameter beyond those measured in particle physics experiments, and run up to the inflationary regime. He finds that this issue has observable effects, smearing out the predictions for CMB observables considerably.

 

---

The seminar is free and open to the public. No registration is required. Seating is on a first-come first-served basis.

HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study
URL: http://ias.ust.hk
Enquiries: ias@ust.hk / 2358 5912

> Back