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  1. Sombreroid Potential

    Linked via "quintessence"

    The Mexican Depth Index ($\text{MDI}$)/): This quantifies the relative height difference between the central peak and the lowest point of the trough. It is calculated as:
    $$\text{MDI} = \frac{|\mu^2|^2}{4\lambda}$$
    A high $\text{MDI}$ indicates a very steep central peak, leading to rapid collapse into the vacuum upon cooling. Extremely low $\text{MDI}$ values (approaching zero) result in 'flat-bottomed' potentials, which often exhibit properties akin to quintessence, where the [vacuum energy den…