Matrix Inflation and the Landscape of its Potential

TL;DR

This paper explores the diverse inflationary models emerging from matrix inflation (M-flation) within string theory, analyzing their classical landscape and quantum transitions, with specific focus on two-field models.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed study of the inflationary landscape in M-flation, including classical dynamics and quantum transitions between models, based on string theory compactifications.

Findings

Mapping of the classical inflationary landscape in M-flation.

Analysis of quantum transitions among different inflationary models.

Specific two-field inflationary models derived from the landscape.

Abstract

Recently we introduced an inflationary setup in which the inflaton fields are matrix valued scalar fields with a generic quartic potential, M-flation. In this work we study the landscape of various inflationary models arising from M-flation. The landscape of the inflationary potential arises from the dynamics of concentric multiple branes in appropriate flux compactifications of string theory. After discussing the classical landscape of the theory we study the possibility of transition among various inflationary models appearing at different points on the landscape, mapping the quantum landscape of M-flation. As specific examples, we study some two-field inflationary models arising from this theory in the landscape.