Lessons from T μμT^{\mu}_{~ \mu} on inflation models: two-scalar theory and Yukawa theory

We demonstrate two properties of the trace of the energy-momentum tensor $T^{\mu}_{~ \mu}$ in the flat spacetime. One is the decoupling of heavy degrees of freedom; i.e., heavy degrees of freedom leave no effect for low-energy $T^{\mu}_{~ \mu}$-inserted amplitudes. This is intuitively apparent from the effective field theory point of view, but one has to take into account the so-called trace anomaly to explicitly demonstrate the decoupling. As a result, for example, in the $R^{2}$ inflation model, scalaron decay is insensitive to heavy degrees of freedom when a matter sector ${\it minimally}$ couples to gravity (up to a non-minimal coupling of a matter scalar field other than the scalaron). The other property is a quantum contribution to a non-minimal coupling of a scalar field. The non-minimal coupling disappears from the action in the flat spacetime, but leaves the so-called improvement term in $T^{\mu}_{~ \mu}$. We study the renormalization group equation of the non-minimal coupling to discuss its quantum-induced value and implications for inflation dynamics. We work it out in the two-scalar theory and Yukawa theory.Comment: 18+9 pages, 5 figures; minor changes to match the version accepted in PR

Dark matter kinetic decoupling with a light particle

We argue that the acoustic damping of the matter power spectrum is not a generic feature of the kinetic decoupling of dark matter, but even the enhancement can be realized depending on the nature of the kinetic decoupling when compared to that in the standard cold dark matter model. We consider a model that exhibits a ${\it sudden}$ kinetic decoupling and investigate cosmological perturbations in the ${\it standard}$ cosmological background numerically in the model. We also give an analytic discussion in a simplified setup. Our results indicate that the nature of the kinetic decoupling could have a great impact on small scale density perturbations.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure

Axion-like particle assisted strongly interacting massive particle

We propose a new realization of strongly interacting massive particles (SIMP) as self-interacting dark matter, where SIMPs couple to the Standard Model sector through an axion-like particle. Our model gets over major obstacles accompanying the original SIMP model, such as a missing mechanism of kinetically equilibrating SIMPs with the SM plasma as well as marginal perturbativity of the chiral Lagrangian density. Remarkably, the parameter region realizing $\sigma_{\rm self}/m_{\rm DM} \simeq 0.1 \textrm{--} 1 \, {\rm cm}^{2}/{\rm g}$ is within the reach of future beam dump experiments such as the Search for Hidden Particles (SHiP) experiment.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure. v2: figure updated, discussions improve