Inflation from inhomogeneous initial data in a one-dimensional back-reacting cosmology

We have simulated the onset of the inflationary era of the early Universe numerically, starting with inhomogeneous initial data for the Higgs field. Our computer code is fully general relativistic, including the gravitational effect of the Higgs field, and simulates a spacetime inhomogeneous in one space direction. According to our results, large initial fluctuations of the Higgs field do not prevent inflation, if the potential has the right shape. In a Coleman-Weinberg-type model with σ=0.1$m_{\mathrm{Pl}}$ inflation is realized for λ≲${10}^{\mathrm{-}2}$ and with σ=0.01$m_{\mathrm{Pl}}$ for λ≲${10}^{\mathrm{-}5}$. .AE