Charting an Inflationary Landscape with Random Matrix Theory

Understand

We construct a class of random potentials for N >> 1 scalar fields using non-equilibrium random matrix theory, and then characterize multifield inflation in this setting.

• By stipulating that the Hessian matrices in adjacent coordinate patches are related by Dyson Brownian motion, we define the potential in the vicinity of a trajectory.
• This method remains computationally efficient at large N, permitting us to study much larger systems than has been possible with other constructions.
• We illustrate the utility of our approach with a numerical study of inflation in systems with up to 100 coupled scalar fields.