Power-law F(R) gravity as deformations to Starobinsky inflation in view of ACT

In this work we aim to provide a new parametrization of power-law F(R) gravity inflation framework in the Jordan frame. It is known in the literature that the power-law F(R) gravity inflation of the form F(R)=R+βRⁿ is non-viable and produces a power-law evolution. We demonstrate that the standard approach in power-law F(R) gravity inflation has some parametrization issues that may lead to inconsistencies and we introduce a new parametrization which elevates the role of power-law F(R) gravity deformations of the Starobinsky inflation, making it viable and compatible with both the Planck and ACT data. In our approach the power-law F(R) gravity inflation is disentangled from a power-law evolution.