Axion inflation in type II string theory
- Physikalisches Institut der Universitaet Bonn, Nussallee 12, 53115 Bonn (Germany) and Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 (United States)
Inflationary models driven by a large number of axion fields are discussed in the context of type IIB compactifications with N=1 supersymmetry. The inflatons arise as the scalar modes of the R-R two-forms evaluated on vanishing two-cycles in the compact geometry. The vanishing cycles are resolved by small two-volumes or NS-NS B fields which sit together with the inflatons in the same supermultiplets. String world sheets wrapping the vanishing cycles correct the metric of the R-R inflatons. They can help to generate kinetic terms close to the Planck scale and a mass hierarchy between the axions and their nonaxionic partners during inflation. At small string coupling, D-brane corrections are subleading in the metric of the R-R inflatons. However, an axion potential can be generated by D1 instantons or gaugino condensates on D5-branes. Models with a sufficiently large number of axions admit regions of chaotic inflation which can stretch over the whole axion field range for potentials from gaugino condensates. These models could allow for a possibly detectable amount of gravitational waves with tensor to scalar ratio as high as r<0.14.
- OSTI ID:
- 21205236
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Vol. 77, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.77.126007; (c) 2008 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0556-2821
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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