Quadratic-inflation endpoint estimate

ID: quadratic-inflation-endpoint-estimate

For and unreduced Planck mass , the potential slow-roll parameter is . Its conventional value one gives the displayed endpoint estimate. Exact accelerated expansion ends at , or for a canonical scalar alone. Substitution of slow-roll formulas into this exact condition gives a different order-one coefficient because slow roll is failing there; a precise endpoint requires integrating the full inflaton equation of motion and Friedmann equation. The large-field e-fold estimate is insensitive to this order-one endpoint uncertainty.

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