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Non-minimal coupling of the Higgs boson to curvature in an inflationary universe

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posted on 2023-06-21, 06:02 authored by Xavier CalmetXavier Calmet, Iberê Kuntz, Ian G Moss
In the absence of new physics around 10^10 GeV, the electroweak vacuum is at best metastable. This represents a major challenge for high scale in ationary models as, during the early rapid expansion of the universe, it seems difficult to understand how the Higgs vacuum would not decay to the true lower vacuum of the theory with catas- trophic consequences if inflation took place at a scale above 10^10 GeV. In this paper we show that the non-minimal coupling of the Higgs boson to curvature could solve this problem by generating a direct coupling of the Higgs boson to the inflationary potential thereby stabilizing the electroweak vacuum. For specific values of the Higgs field initial condition and of its non-minimal coupling, inflation can drive the Higgs field to the electroweak vacuum quickly during inflation.

Funding

South-Eastern Particle Theory Alliance Sussex - RHUL - UCL 2017-2020 - Sussex node; G2074; STFC-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL; ST/P000819/1

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Foundations of Physics

ISSN

0015-9018

Publisher

Springer Verlag

Issue

1

Volume

48

Page range

110-120

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-12-20

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-12-20

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-12-20

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