
We study the possibility that, after inflation, the inflaton reaches thermal equilibrium with the Standard Model thermal bath and eventually freezes-out in the non-relativistic regime. When the inflaton decay is the sole source of (non-thermal) dark matter, its relic density is automatically suppressed. We delineate parameter space leading to the correct dark matter abundance. The model allows for a significant Higgs-inflaton coupling which may lead to invisible Higgs decay into inflaton pairs at the LHC.
14 pages, 3 figures; v2: matches version published in PRD (extended discussions, fixed typos, updated references)
Physical sciences, MODEL, LATTICE, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph), Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO), DARK-MATTER, FOS: Physical sciences, inflation, Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Physical sciences, MODEL, LATTICE, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph), Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO), DARK-MATTER, FOS: Physical sciences, inflation, Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 4 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
