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arXiv · 2206.05523

Pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone inflation with twin waterfalls

Hyun Min Lee·Adriana Menkara
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Abstract

We propose a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone inflation where twin waterfall fields coupled to the inflaton are responsible for the graceful exit from inflation by a waterfall transition. In this scenario, the $Z_2$ symmetry for the waterfall fields and the inflaton protects the inflaton potential against dangerous quantum corrections coming from the waterfall couplings. We show that there is a wide range of natural model parameters and initial conditions for a successful inflation and discuss the reheating process by the perturbative decay of the waterfall field with a $Z_2$ invariant Higgs portal. We also present a microscopic model for the inflaton couplings to the twin waterfall fields in the context of a dark QCD with light and heavy quarks.

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Hyun Min Lee, Adriana Menkara. 2022-06-11. Pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone inflation with twin waterfalls. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2022.137483

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