Hillclimbing saddle point inflation

TL;DR

This paper explores a generalized inflationary model where the inflaton potential features a saddle point near the Planck scale, extending previous hillclimbing Higgs inflation models to broader scenarios.

Contribution

It introduces a new class of inflation models with saddle points near the Planck scale, generalizing hillclimbing Higgs inflation to more complex potential landscapes.

Findings

Potential for successful inflation with saddle points near the Planck scale

Extension of hillclimbing Higgs inflation to broader potential forms

Implications for early universe cosmology and inflationary predictions

Abstract

Recently a new inflationary scenario was proposed in arXiv:1703.09020 which can be applicable to an inflaton having multiple vacua. In this letter, we consider a more general situation where the inflaton potential has a (UV) saddle point around the Planck scale. This class of models can be regarded as a natural generalization of the hillclimbing Higgs inflation (arXiv:1705.03696).