We propose a limited class of models, describing interacting chiral multiplets with a non-minimal coupling to a vector multiplet, in curved superspace of $N=1$ supergravity. Those models are suitable for the inflationary model building in supergravity with inflaton assigned to a massive vector multiplet and spontaneous SUSY breaking in Minkowski vacuum after inflation, for any values of the inflationary parameters $n_s$ and $r$, and any scale of SUSY breaking.
The $N=1$ supergravity models of cosmological inflation with inflaton belonging to a massive vector multiplet and spontaneous SUSY breaking after inflation are reformulated as the supersymmetric $U(1)$ gauge theories of a massless vector superfield interacting with the Higgs and Polonyi chiral superfields, all coupled to supergravity. The $U(1)$ gauge sector is identified with the $U(1)$ gauge fields of the super-GUT coupled to supergravity, whose gauge group has a $U(1)$ factor. A positive cosmological constant (dark energy) is included. The scalar potential is calculated, and its de Sitter v…
We study the possibility that the Higgs and the inflaton are the same single field or cousins arising from the extra space components of some higher-dimensional gauge field. We take 5D supersymmetric gauge theory with a matter compactified on S^1 as a toy model and evaluate the one-loop contribution to the Higgs-inflaton potential. Our gauge-Higgs-inflaton unification picture applied to the gauge field of intermediate energy scale (\sim 10^{13} GeV) can explain the observed inflation parameters without fine-tuning.
Most successful models of inflation in supergravity have a shift symmetry for the inflaton and contain a stabilizer field coupled to the inflaton in a particular way. We argue that the natural interpretation of the stabilizer, from the viewpoint of the shift symmetry, is a three-form multiplet. Its coupling to the inflaton is uniquely determined by the shift symmetry and the invariance under three-form gauge transformations and has a natural string theory interpretation.
We propose the Starobinsky-type inflationary model in the matter-coupled $N=1$ four-dimensional supergravity with the massive vector multiplet that has inflaton (scalaron) and goldstino amongst its field components, whose action includes the Dirac-Born-Infeld-type kinetic term and the generalized (new) Fayet-Iliopoulos-type term, without gauging the R-symmetry. The $N=1$ chiral matter ("hidden sector") is described by the modified Polonyi model needed for spontaneous supersymmetry breaking after inflation. We compute the bosonic action and the scalar potential of the model, and show that it ca…
We consider cosmological perturbations caused by modulated inflaton velocity. During inflation, the inflaton motion is damped and the velocity is determined by the parameters such as couplings or masses that may depend on light fields(moduli). The number of e-foldings is different in different patches if there are spatial fluctuations of such parameters. Based on this simple idea, we consider ``modulated inflation'' in which the curvature perturbation is generated by the fluctuation of the inflaton velocity. This talk is based on our recent papers.
In these notes, we emphasize the rôle of spontaneous broken global discrete symmetries acting on the moduli space of $N=2$ susy Yang-Mills theories and show how they can be used, together with the BPS condition, as a spectrum generating symmetry. In particular, in the strong-coupling region, all BPS states come in multiplets of this broken symmetry. This played a key rôle in the determination of the strong-coupling spectra.
Supergravity is a well-motivated theory beyond the standard model of particle physics, and a suitable arena to study high-energy physics at the early universe including inflation, whose observational evidences are growing more and more. Inflation in supergravity, however, cannot be easily described because of restrictions from supersymmetry (SUSY). The scalar potential has an exponential factor and a large negative term whereas a flat and positive potential is needed to realize inflation. The standard method to obtain such an inflationary scalar potential requires an additional superfield to t…
We review the realization of Starobinsky-type inflation within induced-gravity Supersymmetric (SUSY) and non-SUSY models. In both cases, inflation is in agreement with the current data and can be attained for subplanckian values of the inflaton. The corresponding effective theories retain perturbative unitarity up to the Planck scale and the inflaton mass is predicted to be 3x10^13 GeV. The supergravity embedding of these models is achieved by employing two gauge singlet chiral supefields, a superpotential that is uniquely determined by a continuous R and a discrete Zn symmetry, and several (s…
In this paper we consider a class of inflation models on the brane where the dominant part of the inflaton scalar potential does not depend on the inflaton field value during inflation. In particular, we consider supernatural inflation, its hilltop version, A-term inflation, and supersymmetric (SUSY) D- and F-term hybrid inflation on the brane. We show that the parameter space can be broadened, the inflation scale generally can be lowered, and still possible to have the spectral index $n_s=0.96$.
The large tensor spectrum recently observed by the BICEP2 Collaboration requires a super-Planckian field variation of the inflaton in the single-field inflationary scenario. The required slow-roll parameter ε\approx 0.01 would restrict the e-folding number to around 7 in (sub-)Planckian inflationary models. To overcome such problems, we consider a two-field scenario based on the natural assisted supersymmetric (SUSY) hybrid model ("natural SUSY hybrid inflation" [1]), which combines the SUSY hybrid and the natural inflation models. The axionic inflaton field from the natural inflation sector c…
We consider N=2 supergravity theories that have the same spectrum as the R+R^2 supergravity, as predicted from the off-shell counting of degrees of freedom. These theories describe standard N=2 supergravity coupled to one or two long massive vector multiplets. The central charge is not gauged in these models and they have a Minkowski vacuum with N=2 unbroken supersymmetry. The gauge symmetry, being non-compact, is always broken. $α$-deformed inflaton potentials are obtained, in the case of a single massive vector multiplet, with $α=1/3$ and $2/3$. The $α=1$ potential (i.e. the Starobinsky pote…
We study real fifth-order superfield constraint for ${\cal N}=2$ vector (and tensor) multiplet and derive most general solution describing complete supersymmetry breaking, and preserving a real scalar, two goldstini, and an abelian gauge field as low-energy degrees of freedom on which both supersymmetries are realized non-linearly. The surviving scalar is identified as an axion of a broken global abelian symmetry, while its scalar partner (saxion) is eliminated in terms of the goldstini. We provide an example of a UV model giving rise to the quintic constraint, and discuss the connection of th…
We consider supersymmetric non-Abelian gauge theories coupled to hyper multiplets on five and six dimensional orbifolds, S^1/Z_2 and T^2/Z_N, respectively. We compute the bulk and local fixed point renormalizations of the gauge couplings. To this end we extend supergraph techniques to these orbifolds by defining orbifold compatible delta functions. We develop their properties in detail. To cancel the bulk one-loop divergences the bulk gauge kinetic terms and dimension six higher derivative operators are required. The gauge couplings renormalize at the Z_N fixed points due to vector multiplet s…
We discuss non-minimal quadratic inflation in supersymmetric (SUSY) and non-SUSY models which entails a linear coupling of the inflaton to gravity. Imposing a lower bound on the parameter cR, involved in the coupling between the inflaton and the Ricci scalar curvature, inflation can be attained even for subplanckian values of the inflaton while the corresponding effective theory respects the perturbative unitarity up to the Planck scale. Working in the non-SUSY context we also consider radiative corrections to the inflationary potential due to a possible coupling of the inflaton to bosons or f…
In this paper, we consider high scale (100 TeV) supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking and realize the idea of hilltop supernatural inflation in concrete particle physics models based on flipped-SU(5) and Pati-Salam models in the framework of supersymmetric grand unified theories (SUSY GUTs). The inflaton can be a flat direction including right-handed sneutrino and the waterfall field is a GUT Higgs. The spectral index is $n_s=0.96$ which fits very well with recent data by PLANCK satellite. There is no both thermal and non-thermal gravitino problems. Non-thermal leptogenesis can be resulted from the de…
We discuss spontaneous supersymmetry breaking in $N=2$ globally supersymmetric theories describing abelian vector multiplets. The most general form of the action admits, in addition to the usual Fayet-Iliopoulos term, a magnetic Fayet-Iliopoulos term for the auxiliary components of dual vector multiplets. In a generic case, this leads to a spontaneous breakdown of one of the two supersymmetries. In some cases however, dyon condensation restores $N=2$ SUSY vacuum. This talk is based on the work done in collaboration with H. Partouche \cite{apt}.
We present evidence of the existence of a 1D, N = 16 SUSY hologram that can be used to understand representation theory aspects of a 4D, N = 4 supersymmetrical vector multiplet. In this context, the long-standing off-shell "SUSY problem" for the 4D, N = 4 Maxwell supermultiplet is precisely formulated as a problem in linear algebra.
We discuss a high-scale SUSY breaking scenario with the wino dark matter in the five-dimensional supergravity model on $S^1/Z_2$. The extra U(1) symmetries broken by the orbifold projection control the flavor structure of soft SUSY-breaking parameters as well as the Yukawa couplings, and a scalar component of the one of moduli multiplets, which arise from extra-dimensional components of the U(1) vector multiplets, induces the slow-roll inflation. Because of the supersymmetric moduli stabilization as well as the moduli inflation, it is found that the correct dark matter relic abundance is non-t…
We show how general initial conditions for small field inflation can be obtained in multi-field models. This is provided by non-linear angular friction terms in the inflaton that provide a phase of non-slow-roll inflation before the slow-roll inflation phase. This in turn provides a natural mechanism to star small-field slow-roll at nearly zero velocity for arbitrary initial conditions. We also show that there is a relation between the scale of SUSY breaking sqrt (f) and the amount of non-gaussian fluctuations generated by the inflaton. In particular, we show that in the local non-gaussian sha…
We present a superconformal master action for a class of supergravity models with one arbitrary function defining the Jordan frame. It leads to a gauge-invariant action for a real vector multiplet, which upon gauge fixing describes a massive vector multiplet, or to a dual formulation with a linear multiplet and a massive tensor field. In both cases the models have one real scalar, the inflaton, naturally suited for single-field inflation. Vectors and tensors required by supersymmetry to complement a single real scalar do not acquire vev's during inflation, so there is no need to stabilize the …
Scalar decay into gravitinos is studied in the presence of D-term supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking. The gravitinos produced by the decay of coherent oscillations of scalar fields, such as moduli and inflatons, cause cosmological problems. We show the general formula for the partial decay rate of the scalar into two gravitinos. Applying it to a concrete model of D-term SUSY breaking, we find that D-term SUSY breaking can suppress gravitino production.
We perform a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the SUSY flavor structure of generic 5D supergravity models on $S^1/Z_2$ with multiple $Z_2$-odd vector multiplets that generate multiple moduli. The SUSY flavor problem can be avoided due to contact terms in the 4D effective Kähler potential peculiar to the multi-moduli case. A detailed phenomenological analysis is provided based on an illustrative model.
We consider a broad class of inflationary models of two unconstrained chiral superfields, the stabilizer $S$ and the inflaton $Φ$, which can describe inflationary models with nearly arbitrary potentials. These models include, in particular, the recently introduced theories of cosmological attractors, which provide an excellent fit to the latest Planck data. We show that by adding to the superpotential of the fields $S$ and $Φ$ a small term depending on a nilpotent chiral superfield $P$ one can break SUSY and introduce a small cosmological constant without affecting main predictions of the orig…
We explore the novel possibility that the inflaton responsible for cosmological inflation is a gauge non-singlet in supersymmetric (SUSY) Grand Unified Theories (GUTs). For definiteness we consider SUSY hybrid inflation where we show that the scalar components of gauge non-singlet superfields, together with fields in conjugate representations, may form a D-flat direction suitable for inflation. We apply these ideas to SUSY models with an Abelian gauge group, a Pati-Salam gauge group and finally Grand Unified Theories based on SO(10) where the scalar components of the matter superfields in the …
We consider the role of supersymmetric flat directions in reheating the Universe after inflation. One or more flat directions can develop large vevs during inflation, which can potentially affect reheating by slowing down scattering processes among inflaton decay products or by coming to dominate the energy density of the Universe. Both effects occur only if flat directions are sufficiently long-lived. The computation of their perturbative decay rate, and a simple estimate of their nonperturbative decay have led to the conclusion that this is indeed the case. In contrast, we show that flat dir…
We study the conditions of restoring supersymmetry (SUSY) after inflation in the supergravity-based cosmological models with a single chiral superfield and a quartic stabilization term in the Kähler potential. Some new, explicit, and viable inflationary models satisfying those conditions are found. The inflaton's scalar superpartner is dynamically stabilized during and after inflation. We also demonstrate a possibility of having small and adjustable SUSY breaking with a tiny cosmological constant.
Massless localized vector field is obtained in five-dimensional supersymmetric (SUSY) QED coupled to tensor multiplets as a half BPS solution. The four-dimensional gauge coupling is obtained as a topological charge. We also find all the (bosonic) massive modes exactly for a particular value of a parameter, demonstrating explicitly the existence of a mass gap. The four-dimensional Coulomb law is shown to hold for sources placed on the wall.
We study the embedding of the quadratic model of chaotic inflation into the 4D, N=1 minimal theories of supergravity by the use of massive vector multiplets and investigate its robustness against higher order corrections. In particular, we investigate the criterion of technical naturalness for the inflaton potential. In the framework of the new-minimal formulation the massive vector multiplet is built in terms of a real linear multiplet coupled to a vector multiplet via the 4D analog of the Green-Schwarz term. This theory gives rise to a single-field quadratic model of chaotic inflation, which…
Combination of Plank and BICEP2 data reported that tensor to scalar ratio $r\simeq 0.16$ and scalar spectral index $n_{s}\simeq 0.96$. In this short note, it is shown that chaotic inflation with quadratic potential, which perfectly accounts for present fit to $r$ and $n_s$, and relatively heavy Higgs mass for fine-tuned MSSM, are both suggested to be consequences of high-scale supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking. Following this idea, we find that inflaton mass is of same order as soft mass, flatness of inflation potential doesn't need a shift symmetry, and scale of inflation energy density automatic…
We consider the supersymmetry breaking effects on typical inflation models with different types of Kähler potential. The critical size of supersymmetry-breaking scale, above which the flatness of the inflaton potential is spoiled, drastically changes model by model. We present the universal description of such effects in terms of a field-dependent scaling factor by which gravity-mediated supersymmetry breaking terms are suppressed or enhanced, based on the conformal supergravity framework. Such a description would be useful when we estimate them in constructing supersymmetric models of particl…
We modify the first ISS model (hep-th/0602239) by gauging a diagonal flavour symmetry. We add additional multiplets transforming as fundamentals and anti-fundamentals under the gauged flavour group. Their number is chosen such that the microscopic theory is asymptotically free whereas in the Seiberg dual (w.r.t. the colour group) it changes to an infrared free theory. Non perturbative effects within the flavour group can correct the location of the supersymmetric vacuum. Statements about meta-stability of the susy breaking vacuum would require a two loop calculation. For general couplings, the…
We consider gravity mediated supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking in 5D spacetime with two 4D branes B1 and B2 separated in the extra dimension. Using an off-shell 5D supergravity (SUGRA) formalism, we argue that the SUSY breaking scales could be non-universal even at the fundamental scale in a brane world setting, since SUSY breaking effects could be effectively localized. As an application, we suggest a model in which the two light chiral MSSM generations reside on B1, while the third generation is located on B2, and the Higgs multiplets as well as gravity and gauge multiplets reside in the bulk. F…
It has been recently pointed out that the polarization BICEP2 results are consistent with the identification of an inflaton mass m \simeq 10^{13} GeV with the SUSY breaking scale in an MSSM with a fine-tuned SM Higgs. This identification leads to a Higgs mass m_h \simeq 126 GeV, consistent with LHC measurements. Here we propose that this naturally suggests to identify the inflaton with the heavy MSSM Higgs system. The fact that the extrapolated Higgs coupling lambda_{SM}\simeq 0 at scales below the Planck scale suggests the Higgs degrees of freedom could be associated to a Wilson line or D-bra…
These are expanded notes of lectures given at the summer school "Gif 2000" in Paris. They constitute the first part of an "Introduction to supersymmetry and supergravity" with the second part on supergravity by J.-P. Derendinger to appear soon. The present introduction is elementary and pragmatic. I discuss: spinors and the Poincaré group, the susy algebra and susy multiplets, superfields and susy lagrangians, susy gauge theories, spontaneously broken susy, the non-linear sigma model, N=2 susy gauge theories, and finally Seiberg-Witten duality.
We elaborate on the predictions of the imaginary Starobinsky model of inflation coupled to matter, where the inflaton is identified with the imaginary part of the inflaton multiplet suggested by the Supergravity embedding of a pure R + R^2 gravity. In particular, we study the impact of higher-order curvature terms and show that, depending on the parameter range, one may find either a quadratic model of chaotic inflation or monomial models of chaotic inflation with fractional powers between 1 and 2.
We consider an N=1 supersymmetric U(N) gauge theory with an adjoint chiral multiplet. By developing a self-consistent Hartree-Fock approximation to the leading order which is reminiscent of that of the BCS/NJL in the superconductivity/chiral symmetry, we show that the N=1 supersymmetry is spontaneously broken, giving a mixed Majorana-Dirac mass term for gaugino due to the nonvanishing D-term VEV and F-term one induced by D-term.
Spontaneously broken supersymmetry (SUSY) and a vanishingly small cosmological constant imply that R symmetry must be spontaneously broken at low energies. Based on this observation, we suppose that, in the sector responsible for low-energy R symmetry breaking, a discrete R symmetry remains preserved at high energies and only becomes dynamically broken at relatively late times in the cosmological evolution, i.e., after the dynamical breaking of SUSY. Prior to R symmetry breaking, the Universe is then bound to be in a quasi-de Sitter phase---which offers a dynamical explanation for the occurren…
The vertex operators for the supergravity multiplet can be constructed through the Wilson lines in IIB matrix model. We investigate the structure of the vertex operators and the symmetry of their correlation functions. For this purpose, we perturb the theory by the Wilson lines dual to the supergravity multiplet. The structure of the Wilson lines can be determined by requiring $\cal{N}$=2 SUSY under the low energy approximation. We argue that the generating functional of the correlators is invariant under local SUSY transformations of IIB supergravity.
7D (non-)susy vacua & DWs from dynamical open strings
INFN, Sezione di Roma2（意大利国家核物理研究所罗马第二分部）；Galileo Galilei Institute for Theoretical Physics（伽利略·伽利莱理论物理研究所）；Universidad de Oviedo（奥维耶多大学）；Instituto Universitario de Ciencias y Tecnologías Espaciales de Asturias (ICTEA)（阿斯图里亚斯宇宙科学与技术大学研究所）
We present possible realizations of gauge inflation arising from a 5D ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetric U(1) model, where the extra dimension is compactified on a circle. A one-loop inflaton effective 4D potential is generated, with the inflaton being a 'Wilson-line field'. It relies on a SUSY breaking. We first consider SUSY breaking to occur spontaneously within a 'no-scale' model by a non zero $F$-term of the radion superfield which transmits SUSY breaking into the 'visible' sector. As an alternative, we study $D$-term SUSY breaking originating directly from the 5D gauge supermultiplet. Together …
We propose the unified models of cosmological inflation, spontaneous SUSY breaking, and the dark energy (de Sitter vacuum) in $N=1$ supergravity with the dilaton-axion chiral superfield $T$ in the presence of an $N=1$ vector multiplet with the alternative Fayet-Iliopoulos term. By using the Kähler potential as $K=-α\log(T+\bar{T})$ and the superpotential as a sum of a constant and a linear term, we find that viable inflation is possible for $3\leqα\leqα_{\rm max}$ where $α_{\rm max}\approx 7.235$. Observations of the amplitude of primordial scalar perturbations fix the SUSY breaking scale in o…
We propose a four-dimensional N = 1 supergravity-based Starobinsky-type inflationary model in terms of a single massive vector multiplet, whose action includes the Dirac-Born-Infeld-type kinetic terms and a generalized (new) Fayet-Iliopolulos-type term without gauging the R-symmetry. The bosonic action and the scalar potential are computed. Inflaton is the superpartner of goldstino in our model, and supersymmetry is spontaneously broken after inflation by the D-type mechanism, whose scale is related to the value of the cosmological constant.
We discuss how the inflation induced supersymmetry breaking affects the flat directions of SUSY vacua. We show that under general assumptions all gauge nonsinglet fields, parameterizing flat directions (and in particular squarks and sleptons), get large $radiative$ masses which are related to the value of the Hubble constant ($H$) and to the expectation value of the inflaton field. This mass (typically $\sim H$) is of ``non-gravitational'' origin and does not vanishes in the global SUSY limit. Large radiative corrections are induced by $F$-term (or $D$-term) density, which dominates the inflat…
We propose that the radion chiral supermultiplet of five dimensional compactified supergravity is obtained by reduction of the graviphoton gauge multiplet to N=1 superfields in the off shell 5D superconformal gravity formalism of Fujita, Kugo and Ohashi. We present a superfield Lagrangian of Chern-Simons type (similar to global SUSY), which reproduces all component couplings of gauge fields and the radion. A hypermultiplet superspace action is also proposed which correctly accounts for the coupling of matter multiplets with gauge and radion superfields. 4D supergravity enters by the coupling t…
We study soft supersymmetry breaking in local models of type II string theory compactifications with branes and fluxes. In such models, magnetic fluxes can be treated as auxiliary fields in N=2 SUSY multiplets. These multiplets appear as ``spurion superfields'' in the low-energy effective action for the local model. We discuss the pattern of SUSY breaking from N=2 to N=1 to N=0 in these models, and then identify the fields leading to soft SUSY breaking terms in various examples. In the final section, we reconsider arguments for the Dijkgraaf-Vafa conjecture in gauge theories with softly broken…
We calculate the weak scale MSSM spectrum starting from a heterotic string theory compactified on an anisotropic orbifold. Supersymmetry breaking is mediated by vector-like exotics that arise naturally in heterotic string theories. The messengers that mediate SUSY breaking come in incomplete GUT multiplets and give rise to non-universal gaugino masses at the GUT scale. Models with non-universal gaugino masses at the GUT scale have the attractive feature of allowing for precision gauge coupling unification at the GUT scale with negligible contributions from threshold corrections near the unific…
In a (0,1) supersymmetric (SUSY) six-dimensional gauge theory, a gauge fermion gives rise to box anomalies. These anomalies are completely canceled by assuming a vector multiplet of (1,1) SUSY. With a T^2/Z_3 orbifold compactification of the extra two dimensional space, the theory provides three chiral multiplets and three equivalent fixed points. We regard them as the origin of the three families of quarks and leptons. Quasi anarchy structure in the SU(5)-5^* representation sector and hence the bimaximal mixing in the neutrino oscillation are explained quite naturally in this framework. We al…
We assess the range of validity of sgoldstino-less inflation in a scenario of low energy supersymmetry breaking. We first analyze the consistency conditions that an effective theory of the inflaton and goldstino superfields should satisfy in order to be faithfully described by a sgoldstino-less model. Enlarging the scope of previous studies, we investigate the case where the effective field theory cut-off, and hence also the sgoldstino mass, are inflaton-dependent. We then introduce a UV complete model where one can realize successfully sgoldstino-less inflation and gauge mediation of supersym…
We study the embedding of inflation with nilpotent multiplets in supergravity, in particular the decoupling of the sgoldstino scalar field. Instead of being imposed by hand, the nilpotency constraint on the goldstino multiplet arises in the low energy-effective theory by integrating out heavy degrees of freedom. We present explicit supergravity models in which a large but finite sgoldstino mass arises from Yukawa or gauge interactions. In both cases the inflaton potential receives two types of corrections. One is from the backreaction of the sgoldstino, the other from the heavy fields generati…
We systematically study VEVs of a gauge scalar field $Σ$ in a bulk U(1) vector multiplet and scalar fields in brane/bulk hypermultiplets charged under U(1) in the 5D $S^1/Z_2$ orbifold model with generic FI terms. A non-trivial VEV of $Σ$ generates bulk mass terms for U(1) charged fields, and their zero modes have non-trivial profiles. In particular, in the SUSY-breaking case, bosonic and fermionic zero modes have Gaussian profiles. Such non-trivial profiles are useful to explain hierarchical couplings. A toy model for SUSY breaking is studied, and it yields sizable $D$-term contributions to s…
Following \cite{Lin:2009yt}, we explore the parameter space of the case when the supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking scale is lower, for example, in gauge mediated SUSY breaking model. During inflation, the form of the potential is $V_0$ plus MSSM (MSSM stands for Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model) (or A term (It is called A-term inflation when the inflaton field is any direction (gauge or singlet) that generates an A-term.)) inflation. We show that the model works for a wide range of the potential $V_0$ with the soft SUSY breaking mass $m\sim O(1)$ TeV. The implication to MSSM (or A-term) infla…
The main problem of inflation in string theory is finding the models with a flat potential, consistent with stabilization of the volume of the compactified space. This can be achieved in the theories where the potential has (an approximate) shift symmetry in the inflaton direction. We will identify a class of models where the shift symmetry uniquely follows from the underlying mathematical structure of the theory. It is related to the symmetry properties of the corresponding coset space and the period matrix of special geometry, which shows how the gauge coupling depends on the volume and the …
The imaginary part of the two point functions of the superconformal anomalous currents are extracted from the cross-sections of semiclassical absorption of dilaton, RR-2 form and gravitino by the wrapped D5 branes. From the central terms of the two point functions anomalous Ward identity is established which relates the exact pre-potential of the ${\cal N}=2$ SUSY Yang-Mills theory with the vacuum expectation value of the anomaly multiplet. From the Ward identity, WDVV (Witten-Dijkgraaf-Verlinde-Verlinde) equation can be derived which is solved for the exact pre-potential.
We clarify classical inflaton models by considering them as effective field theories `a la Ginzburg-Landau. In this approach, the WMAP statement excluding the pure phi^4 potential implies the presence of an inflaton mass term at the scale m ~ 10^{13}GeV.Chaotic, new and hybrid inflation models are studied in an unified manner.In all cases the inflaton potential takes the form V(phi)=m^2 M_{Pl}^2 v(phi/M_{Pl}), where all coefficients in v(varphi) are of order one.If such potential corresponds to supersymmetry breaking, the susy scale is sqrt{m M_{Pl}}~10^{16}GeV which coincides with the GUT sca…
A new class of non-Gaussian curvature fluctuations ζ_{pr} (\bx) \equiv δN(χ_i) arises from the post-inflation preheating behaviour of a non-inflaton field χ_i. Its billiard-like chaotic dynamics imprints regular log-spaced narrow spikes in the number of preheating e-folds N(χ_i). We perform highly accurate lattice simulations of SUSY-inspired quartic inflaton and coupling potentials in a separate-universe approximation to compute N(χ_i) as a function of the (nearly homogeneous) initial condition χ_i. The super-horizon modes of χ_i(\bx) result in positive spiky excursions in ζ_{pr} and hence ne…
Recently, a new type of constant Fayet-Iliopoulos (FI) terms was introduced in $\mathcal{N}=1$ supergravity, which do not require the gauging of the $R$-symmetry. We revisit and generalise these constructions, building a new class of Kähler invariant FI terms parametrised by a function of the gravitino mass as functional of the chiral superfields, which is then used to describe new models of inflation. They are based on a no-scale supergravity model of the inflaton chiral multiplet, supplemented by an abelian vector multiplet with the new FI-term. We show that the inflaton potential is compati…
We study the role of D-terms in supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking. By carefully analyzing the SUSY multiplets containing various conserved currents in theories with global symmetries, we obtain a number of constraints on the renormalization group flow in supersymmetric field theories. Under broad assumptions, these results imply that there are no SUSY-breaking vacua, not even metastable ones, with parametrically large D-terms. This explains the absence of such D-terms in models of dynamical SUSY-breaking. There is, however, a rich class of calculable models which generate comparable D-terms and F-…
We point out some of the outstanding challenges for embedding inflationary cosmology within string theory studying the process of reheating for models where the inflaton is a closed string mode parameterising the size of an internal cycle of the compactification manifold. A realistic model of inflation must explain the tiny perturbations in the cosmic microwave background radiation and also how to excite the ordinary matter degrees of freedom after inflation, required for the success of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. We study these issues focusing on two promising inflationary models embedded in LA…
We revisit and clarify the supersymmetric versions of $R+ R^2$ gravity, in view of the renewed interest to these models in cosmology. We emphasize that the content of the dual standard supergravity theory in the old minimal formulation necessarily includes two massive chiral multiplets, that we call the inflaton and the goldstino. We point out that the presence of these multiplets is model independent in the old minimal formulation and therefore any theory that contains a single chiral multiplet fails to be a supersymmetric generalization of the $R+R^2$ gravity. The supergravity interactions o…
A supergravity extension of the $(R+R^2)$ gravity with the additional (Born-Infeld) structure of a massive vector multiplet gives rise to the specific $F(R)$ gravity, whose structure is investigated in detail. The massive vector multiplet has inflaton (scalaron), goldstino and a massive vector field as its field components. The model describes Starobinsky inflation and allows us to extrapolate the $F(R)$ function beyond the inflationary scale (up to Planck scale). We observe some differences versus the $(R+R^2)$ gravity, and several breaking patterns of the well known correspondence between th…
