Scalaron-Higgs inflation reloaded: Higgs-dependent scalaron mass and primordial black hole dark matter

Understand

We propose an extension of the scalaron-Higgs model by a non-minimal coupling of the Standard Model Higgs boson to the quadratic Ricci scalar resulting in a Higgs-dependent scalaron mass.

• The model predicts a successful stage of effective single-field Starobinsky inflation.
• It features a multi-field amplification mechanism leading to a peak in the inflationary power spectrum at small wavelengths which enhances the production of primordial black holes.
• The extended scalaron-Higgs model unifies inflationary cosmology with elementary particle physics and explains the origin of cold dark matter in terms of primordial black holes without assuming any new particles.