Scalar field phase dynamics in preheating

Abstract

We study the model of a massive inflaton field $\phi$ coupled to another scalar filed $\chi$ with interaction term $g^2\phi^2\chi^2$ for the first stage of preheating. We obtain the the behavior of the phase in terms of the iteration of a simple family of circle maps. When expansion of the universe is taken into account the qualitative behavior of the phase and growth number evolution is reminiscent of the behavior found in the case without expansion.