The Higgs field and early universe cosmology: a (brief) review

TL;DR

This review discusses how the Higgs field influences early universe cosmology, including inflation, vacuum stability, and scalar dynamics, highlighting recent theoretical developments and their implications.

Contribution

It synthesizes recent research on the role of the Higgs field in cosmology, emphasizing its potential impact on inflation and vacuum stability.

Findings

Higgs field can drive inflationary dynamics

Higgs vacuum stability has cosmological implications

Scalar sector interactions influence universe evolution

Abstract

We review and discuss recent work exploring the implications of the Higgs field for early universe cosmology, and vice versa. Depending on the model under consideration the Higgs may be one of a few scalar fields determining the evolution and fate of the Universe, or the Higgs field may be connected to a rich sector of scalar moduli with complicated dynamics. In particular we look at the potential consequences of the Higgs field for inflation and its predictions, for the (meta)stability of the Standard Model vacuum, and for the existence of dynamical selection mechanisms in the landscape.