The Standard Model Higgs boson as the inflaton

TL;DR

This paper proposes that the Standard Model Higgs boson, with a non-minimal gravitational coupling, can serve as the inflaton, explaining cosmological inflation and perturbations without introducing new particles.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the Standard Model Higgs boson can drive inflation through a non-minimal coupling to gravity, avoiding the need for additional particles.

Findings

Higgs field can produce inflation consistent with observations

Non-minimal coupling to gravity is essential

No new particles beyond the Standard Model are needed

Abstract

We argue that the Higgs boson of the Standard Model can lead to inflation and produce cosmological perturbations in accordance with observations. An essential requirement is the non-minimal coupling of the Higgs scalar field to gravity; no new particle besides already present in the electroweak theory is required.