Regularization of Single Field Inflation Models

TL;DR

This paper examines how regularizing the potential in single field inflation models affects their predictions, especially near the end of inflation, with implications for models like quartic hilltop and Higgs inflation.

Contribution

It demonstrates the importance of potential regularization in inflation models and analyzes its impact on inflationary predictions for specific models.

Findings

Regularization significantly alters inflationary predictions.

Impacts are notable for quartic hilltop and Higgs inflation.

Proper potential correction is crucial for model viability.

Abstract

There are many single field inflationary models that are consistent with the recent Planck 2018 measurements of the spectral index $n_s$ and tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$. Despite good agreement with observational data some of these models suffer from having unregularized potentials which would produce a collapsing universe shortly after the end of inflation. In this paper we show that how one chooses to correct the behaviour potential towards the end of inflation can have a significant effect on the inflationary predictions of the model, specifically in the case of quartic hilltop and radiatively corrected Higgs inflation.