Initial conditions for small-field inflation

TL;DR

This paper explores how axion-like fields with periodic potentials can naturally set initial conditions favorable for small-field inflation, reducing the need for fine-tuning.

Contribution

It proposes a mechanism where periodic potentials in axion-like inflaton models enhance the likelihood of inflation without fine-tuning initial conditions.

Findings

Periodic potentials increase initial condition robustness.

Enhanced probability of inflation onset.

No additional fine-tuning required for dynamics.

Abstract

Small-field inflation typically requires rather special initial conditions to commence. It is proposed that in models where the inflaton is an axionlike field, with a periodic contribution to the potential, there is a possibility of significantly enhancing the chances of inflation without any fine-tuning of initial conditions and with no additional fine-tuning of the dynamics beyond what is needed for the potential to support inflation in the first place.