Warm inflation, neutrinos and dark matter: a minimal extension of the Standard Model

• Published in: The journal of high energy physics Vol. 2021; no. 12; pp. 1 - 46
• Main Authors: Levy, Miguel, Rosa, João G., Ventura, Luís B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2021; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Beyond Standard Model; Big Bang theory; Classical and Quantum Gravitation; Cosmic microwave background; Cosmology of Theories beyond the SM; Dark matter; Elementary Particles; High energy physics; High temperature; Leptons; Neutrinos; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Field Theories; Quantum Field Theory; Quantum Physics; Radiation; Regular Article - Theoretical Physics; Relativity; Relativity Theory; Scalars; String Theory; Symmetry; Thermal Field Theory; Beyond Standard Model; Cosmology of Theories beyond the SM; Thermal Field Theory
• ISSN: 1029-8479; 1029-8479
• DOI: 10.1007/JHEP12(2021)176

A bstract We show that warm inflation can be realized within a minimal extension of the Standard Model with three right-handed neutrinos, three complex scalars and a gauged lepton/B-L U(1) symmetry. This simple model can address all the shortcomings of the Standard Model that are not related to fine-tuning, within general relativity, with distinctive experimental signatures that can be probed in the near future. The inflaton field emerges from the collective breaking of the U(1) symmetry, and interacts with two of the right-handed neutrinos, sustaining a high-temperature radiation bath during inflation. The discrete interchange symmetry of the model protects the scalar potential against large thermal corrections and leads to a stable inflaton remnant at late times which can account for dark matter. Consistency of the model and agreement with Cosmic Microwave Background observations naturally yield light neutrino masses below 0.1 eV, while thermal leptogenesis occurs naturally after a smooth exit from inflation into the radiation era.