Quintessential inflation with a trap and axionic dark matter

Understand

We study a new model of quintessential inflation which is inspired by supergravity and string theory.

• The model features a kinetic pole, which gives rise to the inflationary plateau, and a runaway quintessential tail.
• We envisage a coupling between the inflaton and the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) field which terminates the roll of the runaway inflaton and traps the latter at an enhanced symmetry point (ESP), thereby breaking the PQ symmetry.
• The kinetic density of the inflaton is transferred to the newly created thermal bath of the hot big bang due to the decay of PQ particles.