Dynamical inflection point inflation

We provide a mechanism to obtain multiple inflection points for the inflaton potential based on the Coleman-Weinberg potential. The key ingredient is the existence of zeros of the inflaton quartic coupling beta function, which can be simply realized by a sign change of a gauge coupling beta function at a massive threshold scale in gaugeYukawa models. A universal inflaton potential emerges for a wide range of models and can accommodate the observational data in the small-field inflation scenario. While the ratio of tensor over scalar amplitudes is predicted to be small, the running of the scalar spectral index, alpha(s), has branches with both positive and negative values. The positive branch with alpha(s) greater than or similar to 0.002 will be tested by the coming cosmic microwave background observations.

Automated summary

The mechanism proposed in the article allows for obtaining multiple inflection points for the inflaton potential based on the zeros of the inflaton quartic coupling beta function and a sign change of the gauge coupling beta function. A universal inflaton potential is presented that can accommodate observational data and may be tested by upcoming cosmic microwave background observations.