Quintessential Inflation with Dynamical Higgs Generation as an Affine Gravity

Abstract

First, we propose a scale-invariant modified gravity interacting with a neutral scalar inflaton and a Higgs-like S U ( 2 ) × U ( 1 ) iso-doublet scalar field based on the formalism of non-Riemannian (metric-independent) spacetime volume-elements. This model describes, in the physical Einstein frame, a quintessential inflationary scenario driven by the “inflaton” together with the gravity-“inflaton” assisted dynamical spontaneous S U ( 2 ) × U ( 1 ) symmetry breaking in the post-inflationary universe, whereas the S U ( 2 ) × U ( 1 ) symmetry remains intact in the inflationary epoch. Next, we find the explicit representation of the latter quintessential inflationary model with a dynamical Higgs effect as an Eddington-type purely affine gravity.

Keywords

• inflation
• dark energy
• dynamical Higgs effect
• quintessence