On the Naturalness of Higgs inflation

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.79.081302· OSTI ID:21308238

Barbon, J L. F. ^[1]; Espinosa, J R ^[2]

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1. Instituto de Fisica Teorica, IFT-UAM/CSIC, F. Ciencias UAM, 28049 Madrid (Spain)
2. ICREA, Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats, Barcelona, Spain and IFAE, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona (Spain)

We critically examine the recent claim that the standard model (SM) Higgs boson H could drive inflation in agreement with observations if |H|{sup 2} has a strong coupling {xi}{approx}10{sup 4} to the Ricci curvature scalar. We first show that the effective-theory approach upon which that claim is based ceases to be valid beyond a cutoff scale {lambda}=m{sub p}/{xi}, where m{sub p} is the reduced Planck mass. We then argue that knowing the Higgs potential profile for the field values relevant for inflation (|H|>m{sub p}/{radical}({xi})>>{lambda}) requires knowledge of the ultraviolet completion of the SM beyond {lambda}. In absence of such microscopic theory, the extrapolation of the pure SM potential beyond {lambda} is unwarranted and the scenario is akin to other ad hoc inflaton potentials afflicted with significant fine-tuning. The appealing naturalness of this minimal proposal is therefore lost.

• OSTI ID: 21308238
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 79; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
EXTRAPOLATION
HIGGS BOSONS
HIGGS MODEL
MASS
POTENTIALS
STANDARD MODEL
STRONG-COUPLING MODEL
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION