Higgs-inflaton coupling from reheating and the metastable Universe

TL;DR

This paper explores how a Higgs-inflaton coupling, generated during inflation, can address the metastability of our vacuum and influence Higgs field dynamics, providing insights into early universe conditions.

Contribution

It demonstrates that radiatively generated Higgs-inflaton couplings in inflation models can resolve vacuum metastability issues and alter Higgs dynamics during the early universe.

Findings

Higgs-inflaton coupling is naturally generated in inflation models.

Such coupling can stabilize the Higgs vacuum during inflation.

The Higgs field dynamics are significantly affected by this coupling.

Abstract

Current Higgs boson and top quark data favor metastability of our vacuum which raises questions as to why the Universe has chosen an energetically disfavored state and remained there during inflation. In this Letter, we point out that these problems can be solved by a Higgs-inflaton coupling which appears in realistic models of inflation. Since an inflaton must couple to the Standard Model particles either directly or indirectly, such a coupling is generated radiatively, even if absent at tree level. As a result, the dynamics of the Higgs field can change dramatically.