The Second Derivative of the Potential Near Its Minimum

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The mass of the scaler field is related to the curvature of the potential near its minimum, ok? Because if you think about it, so there's some value that the potent has and then it has a first derivative. And by slow we mean it takes longer than the current age of the universe to roll down its potential. Unlike the higs or the axion or the pyon, this field is not sitting at the bottom of its potential.

Welcome to the September 2021 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). I take the large number of questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable size — based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good — and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy!

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