Shaft Inflation
  A new family of inflation models is introduced and studied. The models are
characterised by a scalar potential which, far from the origin, approximates an
inflationary plateau, while near the origin becomes monomial, as in chaotic
inflation. The models are obtained in the context of global supersymmetry
starting with a superpotential, which interpolates from a generalised monomial
to an O'Raifearteagh form for small to large values of the inflaton field
respectively. It is demonstrated that the observables obtained, such as the
scalar spectral index and the tensor to scalar ratio, are in excellent
agreement with the latest observations. Some discussion of initial conditions
and eternal inflation is included.
