Feebly Interacting Dark Matter Particle as the Inflaton

Abstract: We present a scenario where a $Z_2$-symmetric scalar field $\phi$ first drives cosmic inflation, then reheats the Universe but remains out-of-equilibrium itself, and finally comprises the observed dark matter abundance, produced by particle decays `{a} la freeze-in mechanism. We work model-independently without specifying the interactions of the scalar field besides its self-interaction coupling, $\lambda\phi^4$, non-minimal coupling to gravity, $\xi\phi^2R$, and coupling to another scalar field, $g\phi^2\sigma^2$. We find the scalar field $\phi$ serves both as the inflaton and a dark matter candidate if $10^{-9}\lesssim \lambda\lesssim g\lesssim 10^{-7}$ and $3 \rm{keV} \lesssim m_{\rm \phi}\lesssim 85 \rm{MeV}$ for $\xi=\mathcal{O}(1)$. Such a small value of the non-minimal coupling is also found to be of the right magnitude to produce the observed curvature perturbation amplitude within the scenario. We also discuss how the model may be distinguished from other inflationary models of the same type by the next generation CMB satellites.