Oscillon formation during inflationary preheating with general relativity

Abstract

We study the non-perturbative evolution of inflationary fluctuations during preheating using fully non-linear general-relativistic field-theory simulations. We choose a single-field inflationary model that is consistent with observational constraints and start the simulations at the end of inflation with fluctuations both in the field and its conjugate momentum. Gravity enhances the growth of density perturbations, which then collapse and virialize, forming long-lived stable oscillon-like stars that reach compactnesses $\mathcal{C}\equiv GM/R \sim 10^{-3}-10^{-2}$. We find that $\mathcal{C}$ increases for larger field models, until it peaks due to the interplay between the overdensity growth and Hubble expansion rates. Whilst gravitational effects can play an important role in the formation of compact oscillons during preheating, the objects are unlikely to collapse into primordial black holes without an additional enhancement of the initial inflationary fluctuations.