Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background from Axion-Monodromy Oscillons in String Theory During Preheating

Abstract

Axion monodromy is a generic phenomenon in string compactifications. We investigate the production of gravitational-wave background from axion monodromy inflation during preheating. By performing lattice simulations using pseudo-spectral methods, we find that significant single-peak stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds are generated during preheating for asymptotic linear $|\phi|$ and $\phi^{2/3}$ potentials in axion monodromy inflation and cuspy potentials. This may allow us to explore string compactifications through gravitational waves.