Non-Minimal B-L Inflation with Observable Gravity Waves

Abstract

We consider non-minimal \lambda \phi^4 inflation in a gauged non-supersymmetric U(1)_{B-L} model containing the gravitational coupling \xi \mathcal{R} \Phi^\dagger \Phi, where \mathcal{R} denotes the Ricci scalar and the standard model singlet inflaton field \Phi spontaneously breaks the U(1)_{B-L} symmetry. Including radiative corrections, the predictions 0.956 < n_s < 0.984 and 0.007 < r < 0.1 for the scalar spectral index and tensor to scalar ratio r lie within the current WMAP 1-\sigma bounds. If the B-L symmetry breaking scale is of order a TeV or so, one of the three right handed neutrinos is a plausible cold dark matter candidate. Bounds on the dimensionless parameters \lambda, \xi and the gauge coupling g_{B-L} are obtained.