The inflaton as dark matter
Abstract
Within the framework of an explicit dynamical model, in which we calculate the radiatively-corrected, tree-level potential that sets up inflation, we show that the inflaton can be a significant part of dark matter today. We exhibit potentials with both a maximum and a minimum. Using the calculated position of the potential minimum, and an estimate for fluctuations of the inflaton field in the early universe, we calculate a contribution to the matter energy density of (1-2)× 10^{-47}GeV^4 in the present universe, from cold inflatons with mass of about 6× 10^9 GeV. We show that the inflaton might decay in a specific way, and we calculate a possible lifetime that is several orders of magnitude greater than the present age of the universe. Inflaton decay is related to an interaction which, together with a spontaneous breakdown of CP invariance at a cosmological energy scale, can give rise to a neutrino-antineutrino asymmetry just prior to the time of electroweak symmetry breaking.
- Publication:
-
European Physical Journal C
- Pub Date:
- August 1998
- DOI:
- 10.1007/s100529800842
- arXiv:
- arXiv:hep-ph/9712316
- Bibcode:
- 1998EPJC....5..369B
- Keywords:
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- High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
- E-Print:
- 17 pages, 4 eps-figures. To be published in Zeitschr. fuer Physik C. Some comments concerning vacuum energy added