Rescattering of non-minimal coupling scalar particles during inflation

Abstract

We investigate the rescattering effects arising from non-minimally coupled scalar particles $\chi$ that are suddenly produced during inflation. The coupling term $\xi R \chi^2$ significantly enhances resonant particle production compared to minimal coupling scenarios. Consequently, the produced $\chi$ particles rescattering off the homogeneous inflaton condensate $\phi$, generating abundant $\delta\phi$ quanta within very short time intervals. This process leads to characteristic enhancements in the power spectrum of primordial curvature perturbations at scales corresponding to the moments of particle production. When this occurs at small scales, the power spectrum amplitude can reach as high as $\mathcal{O}(10^{-2})$. Furthermore, analysis of the equilateral bispectrum shows that this mechanism also induces substantial non-Gaussian features.