Steep Eternal Inflation and the Swampland

TL;DR

This paper explores the possibility of steep eternal inflation occurring even on steep scalar potentials, potentially aligning with swampland conjectures and enabling eternal inflation within string theory landscapes.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of steep eternal inflation where the inflaton reaches a turn-around point, challenging previous assumptions about the steepness constraints.

Findings

Steep eternal inflation can occur regardless of potential steepness.

The behavior involves the inflaton reaching a turn-around point with zero kinetic energy.

This mechanism satisfies swampland conjectures and supports eternal inflation in string landscapes.

Abstract

I investigate whether eternal inflation is possible when the inflaton originally travels upslope the scalar potential and inevitably reaches a turn-around point where its classical kinetic energy momentarily vanishes. This behaviour occurs regardless of the steepness of the potential slope. Such steep eternal inflation, if achieved, would satisfy the recent swampland conjecture and allow eternal inflation in the string landscape.