Red or blue tensor spectrum from GW170817-compatible Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory: A detailed analysis

• Published in: Europhysics letters Vol. 145; no. 4; pp. 49001 - 49007
• Main Authors: Oikonomou, V. K., Tsyba, Pyotr, Razina, Olga
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Les Ulis EDP Sciences, IOP Publishing and Società Italiana di Fisica 01-02-2024; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Coupling; Phenomenology; Scalars; Tensors
• ISSN: 0295-5075; 1286-4854
• DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/ad239c

In this work we shall prove that the tensor spectral index of the primordial tensor perturbations for GW170817-compatible Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theories, takes the approximate simplified form
at leading order, with
being a function of the scalar field which depends on the scalar field potential and the second derivative of the scalar-Gauss-Bonnet coupling
. With our analysis we aim to provide a definitive criterion for selecting Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet models that can provide a blue-tilted inflationary phenomenology, by simply looking at the scalar potential and the scalar-Gauss-Bonnet coupling. We shall prove this using two distinct approaches and as we show the tilt of the tensor spectral index is determined by the values of the potential
and of scalar-Gauss-Bonnet coupling at first horizon crossing. Specifically the blue-tilted tensor spectral index can occur when
at first horizon crossing.