Affleck-Dine curvaton

Ireland, Aurora [Stanford U., ITP] (ORCID:0000000153930971); Krnjaic, Gordan [Fermilab; Chicago U., KICP; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.] (ORCID:0000000174209577); Okawa, Takuya [Fermilab; WUSTL] (ORCID:000900039478380X)

doi:10.1103/7hr7-rtvh

DOE OSTI · 2477338

Affleck-Dine curvaton

Ireland, Aurora [Stanford U., ITP] (ORCID:0000000153930971)·Krnjaic, Gordan [Fermilab; Chicago U., KICP; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.] (ORCID:0000000174209577)·Okawa, Takuya [Fermilab; WUSTL] (ORCID:000900039478380X)

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Abstract

The Standard Model of particle physics does not explain the origin of the universe’s baryon asymmetry or its primordial fluctuations. The Affleck-Dine mechanism is a well motivated scenario for generating the baryon asymmetry through the postinflationary dynamics of a complex scalar field with baryon number. The curvaton mechanism is a popular approach for producing curvature perturbations through the dynamics of a light spectator field that decays after inflation. We demonstrate that the same complex field can viably perform both roles without any modifications to the minimal realization of Affleck-Dine baryogenesis. This scenario can also accommodate appreciable levels of primordial non-Gaussianity, beyond those achievable with only a real-valued curvaton field, and may be observable with future cosmic microwave background experiments.

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Ireland, Aurora [Stanford U., ITP] (ORCID:0000000153930971), Krnjaic, Gordan [Fermilab; Chicago U., KICP; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.] (ORCID:0000000174209577), Okawa, Takuya [Fermilab; WUSTL] (ORCID:000900039478380X). 2026-05-15. Affleck-Dine curvaton. https://doi.org/10.1103/7hr7-rtvh

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