Weak gravity strongly constrains large-field axion inflation
From MaRDI portal
Publication:2636301
DOI10.1007/JHEP12(2015)108zbMATH Open1388.81939arXiv1506.03447MaRDI QIDQ2636301
Author name not available (Why is that?)
Publication date: 31 May 2018
Published in: (Search for Journal in Brave)
Abstract: Models of large-field inflation based on axion-like fields with shift symmetries can be simple and natural, and make a promising prediction of detectable primordial gravitational waves. The Weak Gravity Conjecture is known to constrain the simplest case in which a single compact axion descends from a gauge field in an extra dimension. We argue that the Weak Gravity Conjecture also constrains a variety of theories of multiple compact axions including N-flation and some alignment models. We show that other alignment models entail surprising consequences for how the mass spectrum of the theory varies across the axion moduli space, and hence can be excluded if further conjectures hold. In every case that we consider, plausible assumptions lead to field ranges that cannot be parametrically larger than the Planck scale. Our results are strongly suggestive of a general inconsistency in models of large-field inflation based on compact axions, and possibly of a more general principle forbidding super-Planckian field ranges.
Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1506.03447
No records found.
No records found.
This page was built for publication: Weak gravity strongly constrains large-field axion inflation
Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2636301)
