Confronting Kähler moduli inflation with CMB data
/ Authors
/ Abstract
In models of inflation obtained from string compactification, moduli vacuum misalignment leads to an epoch in the post-inflationary history of the universe when the energy density is dominated by cold moduli particles. This effect leads to a modification in the number of $e$-foldings ($N_{\rm pivot}$) between horizon exit of the CMB modes and the end of inflation. Taking K\"ahler moduli inflation as a prototype, the shift in $e$-foldings is a function of the model parameters which also determine inflationary observables. We analyse this scenario numerically using publicly available ModeChord and CosmoMC with the latest Planck+BICEP2/Keck array data to constrain the model parameters and $N_{\rm pivot}$.
Journal: Physical Review D