Pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone inflation with twin waterfalls

Abstract

We propose a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone inflation where twin waterfall fields coupled to the inflaton are responsible for the graceful exit from inflation by a waterfall transition. In this scenario, the Z 2 symmetry for the waterfall fields and the inflaton protects the inflaton potential against dangerous quantum corrections coming from the waterfall couplings. We show that there is a wide range of natural model parameters and initial conditions for a successful inflation and discuss the reheating process by the perturbative decay of the waterfall field with a Z 2 invariant Higgs portal. We also present a microscopic model for the inflaton couplings to the twin waterfall fields in the context of a dark QCD with light and heavy quarks.