Scalaron-Higgs inflation reloaded: Higgs-dependent scalaron mass and primordial black hole dark matter

TL;DR

This paper extends the scalaron-Higgs inflation model by introducing a Higgs-dependent scalaron mass, leading to primordial black hole production that could account for dark matter, thus linking cosmology with particle physics.

Contribution

It introduces a Higgs-dependent scalaron mass in the scalaron-Higgs model, enabling primordial black hole formation as dark matter without new particles.

Findings

Successful single-field Starobinsky inflation achieved.

Enhanced primordial black hole production at small wavelengths.

Potential explanation for dark matter as primordial black holes.

Abstract

We propose an extension of the scalaron-Higgs model by a non-minimal coupling of the Standard Model Higgs boson to the quadratic Ricci scalar resulting in a Higgs-dependent scalaron mass. The model predicts a successful stage of effective single-field Starobinsky inflation. It features a multi-field amplification mechanism leading to a peak in the inflationary power spectrum at small wavelengths which enhances the production of primordial black holes. The extended scalaron-Higgs model unifies inflationary cosmology with elementary particle physics and explains the origin of cold dark matter in terms of primordial black holes without assuming any new particles.