  We propose a class of models in which a stable inflaton is produced as a
thermal relic in the early universe and constitutes the dark matter. We show
that inflaton annihilations can efficiently reheat the universe, and identify
several examples of inflationary potentials that can accommodate all cosmic
microwave background observables and in which the inflaton dark matter
candidate has a weak scale mass. As a simple example, we consider annihilations
that take place through a Higgs portal interaction, leading to encouraging
prospects for future direct detection experiments.

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology;Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics