Primordial SU(2), a new paradigm for Particle Cosmology

PIRSA ID: 20010086
Event Type: Seminar
Scientific Area(s):
Cosmology
End date:
Speaker(s):
  • Azadeh Maleknejad, Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA)

Primordial SU(2) gauge fields and axions can contribute to the physics of
inflation. In this class of models, both the gauge field and axion acquire
a VEV, which is P and CP breaking and enriches the phenomenology of
particles with spin. Their multifaceted phenomenology and unique
observational signatures, e.g., chiral primordial gravitational waves and
gravitational leptogenesis, turned this class of models to a hot topic of
research in the past nine years. In this talk, first, I will briefly
review the different realizations of this setup. Next, I will tell you
about the three different types of particles produced by the SU(2) gauge field,
i.e., scalar, fermion, and spin-2 particles and their observable
signatures. In particular, the new spin-2 field produces
chiral gravitational waves, which can be detected with LiteBIRD, CMB-S4,
adv LISA, and BBO. Last but not least, I will tell you about the fermion
generation during inflation, dark and visible, as yet another generous
opportunity offered by the primordial SU(2)!