Inflation and the Higgs Scalar

摘要

This note makes a self-contained exposition of the basic facts of big bangcosmology as they relate to inflation. The fundamental problems with that modelare then explored. A quartic scalar potential model of inflation is evaluatedwhich provides the solution of those problems and makes predictions which willsoon be definitively tested. The possibility that the recently discoveredfundamental Higgs scalar field drives inflation is explored.