March 31, 2008 | Mohsen Alishahiha, Eva Silverstein and David Tong
The paper analyzes the spectrum of density perturbations in models of the "D-cceleration" mechanism of inflation, where strong coupling quantum field effects generate a DBI-like action for the inflaton. The model predicts a strict lower bound on the non-Gaussianity of the CMBR power spectrum, making it falsifiable. It also favors large observable tensor modes in the CMBR spectrum, distinguishing it from traditional slow-roll inflation. The model is based on a D3-brane moving in a five-dimensional warped throat geometry, with the inflaton field parameterizing a direction on the Coulomb branch. The DBI action, derived from integrating out light degrees of freedom, leads to a non-Gaussian spectrum due to the large proper velocity of the brane. The model's predictions for the scalar and tensor power spectra are derived, showing a tilt and a large tensor component. The non-Gaussianity is calculated using the three-point function, with the strength of non-Gaussian features tied to the parameter γ, which is related to the proper velocity of the brane. The model's predictions are constrained by observational data, leading to a lower bound on the tensor component and a requirement for a large inflaton mass. The analysis shows that the model is observationally distinct and falsifiable, with strong non-Gaussianity and a large tensor component in the CMBR spectrum.The paper analyzes the spectrum of density perturbations in models of the "D-cceleration" mechanism of inflation, where strong coupling quantum field effects generate a DBI-like action for the inflaton. The model predicts a strict lower bound on the non-Gaussianity of the CMBR power spectrum, making it falsifiable. It also favors large observable tensor modes in the CMBR spectrum, distinguishing it from traditional slow-roll inflation. The model is based on a D3-brane moving in a five-dimensional warped throat geometry, with the inflaton field parameterizing a direction on the Coulomb branch. The DBI action, derived from integrating out light degrees of freedom, leads to a non-Gaussian spectrum due to the large proper velocity of the brane. The model's predictions for the scalar and tensor power spectra are derived, showing a tilt and a large tensor component. The non-Gaussianity is calculated using the three-point function, with the strength of non-Gaussian features tied to the parameter γ, which is related to the proper velocity of the brane. The model's predictions are constrained by observational data, leading to a lower bound on the tensor component and a requirement for a large inflaton mass. The analysis shows that the model is observationally distinct and falsifiable, with strong non-Gaussianity and a large tensor component in the CMBR spectrum.