Alchemical Inflation: inflaton turns into Higgs

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel inflation model where the inflaton field transitions into the Higgs condensate post-inflation, linking inflationary dynamics with Higgs physics within a supersymmetric framework.

Contribution

It presents a new inflationary scenario with a gauge singlet inflaton transforming into the Higgs, incorporating supersymmetry and a natural initial condition via pre-inflation.

Findings

Inflation energy scale tied to soft supersymmetry breaking

Hubble parameter during inflation is below the gravitino mass

Inflationary path involves a moduli space of supersymmetric vacua

Abstract

We propose a new inflation model in which a gauge singlet inflaton turns into the Higgs condensate after inflation. The inflationary path is characterized by a moduli space of supersymmetric vacua spanned by the inflaton and Higgs field. The inflation energy scale is related to the soft supersymmetry breaking, and the Hubble parameter during inflation is smaller than the gravitino mass. The initial condition for the successful inflation is naturally realized by the pre-inflation in which the Higgs plays a role of the waterfall field.