Modular invariant hilltop inflation

Abstract

In this paper we show that it is possible to achieve successful hilltop inflation in which the inflaton is identified as the modulus field in a modular invariant theory. The dilaton plays a crucial role in shaping the potential. Modular invariant gaugino condensation provides the mechanism for the modulus stabilisation after inflation. The inflationary trajectory lies on the lower boundary of the fundamental domain of the modulus field τ. Inflation starts near the fixed point τ = i, and ends at a point near τ = ω, which is the global de Sitter vacuum. We investigate the allowed parameter space for successful modular invariant hilltop inflation.