Open EFT treatment of inflation with thermal initial conditions

Abstract

Investigating the thermal inflationary model, we introduce stochastic effects, incorporating a cutoff parameter σ which distinguishes between quantum and classical modes. Testing the model against Planck 2018 data, we observe a preference for a non-zero σ at least at 68% C.L., suggesting the classicalization of most modes and providing a theoretical foundation for the quantum to classical transition. As a result of introducing the stochastic effects, we find that the solution to the large-scale power deficit requires a lower comoving temperature of inflaton.