Date of Award

Spring 4-15-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Physics

First Advisor

Tom Giblin

Abstract

We study multiple models of early Universe particle creation, an era called preheating. Mainly, we focus on a model called Gauge Preheating with Charged Particles where the inflationary field is coupled to an Abelian U(1) gauge field, which is in turn coupled to a complex scalar field. We study the nonlinear dynamics of this physically motivated system and find suppression of the previously studied processes of gauge preheating. Additionally, we discuss work studying Gauge Preheating without charged particles, but in the linearized gravity regime. Finally, we focus on a model of preheating and Early Dark Energy called Axion Kination, where only a complex scalar field is present. We again study the full nonlinear dynamics of the model, and continue to improve our model to study its viability as a preheating and an Early Dark Energy model.

Rights Statement

All rights reserved. This copy is provided to the Kenyon Community solely for individual academic use. For any other use, please contact the copyright holder for permission.

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