Multi-field open inflation model and multi-field dynamics in tunneling
  We consider a multi-field open inflation model, in which one of the fields
dominates quantum tunneling from a false vacuum while the other field governs
slow-roll inflation within the bubble nucleated from false vacuum decay. We
call the former the tunneling field and the latter the inflaton field. In the
limit of a negligible interaction between the two fields, the false vacuum
decay is described by a Coleman-De Luccia instanton. Here we take into account
the coupling between the two fields and construct explicitly a multi-field
instanton for a simple quartic potential model. We also solve the evolution of
the scalar fields within the bubble. We find our model realizes open inflation
successfully. This is the first concrete, viable model of open inflation
realized with a simple potential. We then study the effect of the multi-field
dynamics on the false vacuum decay, specifically on the tunneling rate. We find
the tunneling rate increases in general in comparison with the single field
case, though the increase is small unless the inflaton affects the instanton
solution substantially.
