Running inflation in the Standard Model

Andrea De Simone, Mark P. Hertzberg, Frank Wilczek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

342 Scopus citations

Abstract

An interacting scalar field with largish coupling to curvature can support a distinctive inflationary universe scenario. Previously this has been discussed for the Standard Model Higgs field, treated classically or in a leading log approximation. Here we investigate the quantum theory using renormalization group methods. In this model the running of both the effective Planck mass and the couplings is important. The cosmological predictions are consistent with existing WMAP5 data, with 0.967 ≲ ns ≲ 0.98 (for Ne = 60) and negligible gravity waves. We find a relationship between the spectral index and the Higgs mass that is sharply varying for mh ∼ 120 - 135   GeV (depending on the top mass); in the future, that relationship could be tested against data from PLANCK and LHC. We also comment briefly on how similar dynamics might arise in more general settings, and discuss our assumptions from the effective field theory point of view.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-8
Number of pages8
JournalPhysics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics
Volume678
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 6 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cosmological inflation
  • Higgs boson
  • Standard Model

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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