Neutrino reheating predictions with non-thermal leptogenesis

• Published in: The journal of high energy physics Vol. 2025; no. 7; pp. 99 - 25
• Main Author: Zhang, Xinyi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 08.07.2025; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Asymmetry; Baryo-and Leptogenesis; Classical and Quantum Gravitation; Early Universe Particle Physics; Elementary Particles; Energy; Entropy; Heating; Investigations; Neutrinos; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Field Theories; Quantum Field Theory; Quantum Physics; Regular Article - Theoretical Physics; Relativity Theory; Sterile or Heavy Neutrinos; String Theory; Universe; Sterile or Heavy Neutrinos; Baryo-and Leptogenesis; Early Universe Particle Physics
• ISSN: 1029-8479; 1029-8479
• DOI: 10.1007/JHEP07(2025)099

A bstract Connecting inflation with neutrino physics through non-thermal leptogenesis via direct inflaton-right-handed neutrino (RHN) coupling naturally incorporates neutrino reheating, leaving no ambiguity regarding the early history of the universe. In ref. [1], we demonstrate that non-thermal leptogenesis from inflaton decay expands the viable parameter space compared to thermal leptogenesis and provides a natural link to inflation. In this work, we refine our previous findings by closely examining the dynamics of neutrino reheating. We first calculate the duration of neutrino reheating on a general basis, then analyze inflationary observables consistent with neutrino reheating across four models, establishing a direct connection between baryon asymmetry and the spectral index. This approach places these two important observables on the same plane and yields specific predictions that help break the degeneracy among inflationary models. The well-motivated and economical framework offers a simple, natural, and testable description of the early universe.