Longevity of supersymmetric flat directions

We examine the fate of supersymmetric flat directions. We argue that the non-perturbative decay of the flat direction via preheating is an unlikely event. In order to address this issue, first we identify the physical degrees of freedom and their masses in presence of a large flat direction VEV (Vacuum Expectation Value). We explicitly show that the (complex) flat direction and its fermionic partner are the only light {\it physical} fields in the spectrum. If the flat direction VEV is much larger than the weak scale, and it has a rotational motion, there will be no resonant particle production at all. The case of multiple flat directions is more involved. We illustrate that in many cases of physical interest, the situation becomes effectively the same as that of a single flat direction, or collection of independent single directions. In such cases preheating is not relevant. In an absence of a fast non-perturbative decay, the flat direction survives long enough to affect thermalization in supersymmetric models as described in hep-ph/0505050 and hep-ph/0512227. It can also ``terminate'' an early stage of non-perturbative inflaton decay as discussed in hep-ph/0603244.Comment: 9 revtex pages, v3: expanded discussion on two flat directions, minor modifications, conclusions unchange

Inflection point inflation: WMAP constraints and a solution to the fine-tuning problem

We consider observational constraints and fine-tuning issues in a renormalizable model of inflection point inflation, with two independent parameters. We derive constraints on the parameter space of this model arising from the WMAP 7-year power spectrum. It has previously been shown that it is possible to successfully embed this potential in the MSSM. Unfortunately, to do this requires severe fine-tuning. We address this issue by introducing a hybrid field to dynamically uplift the potential with a subsequent smooth phase transition to end inflation at the necessary point. Large parameter regions exist where this drastically reduces the fine-tuning required without ruining the viability of the model. A side effect of this mechanism is that it increases the width of the slow-roll region of the potential, thus also alleviating the problem of the fine-tuning of initial conditions. The MSSM embedding we study has been previously shown to be able to explain the smallness of the neutrino masses. The hybrid transition does not spoil this feature as there exist parameter regions where the fine-tuning parameter is as large as $10^{-1}$ and the neutrino masses remain small.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, JCAP style. Version accepted for publication in JCAP. Modifications made to improve readability, as requested by the referee; results and conclusions unchanged. References update

Occam's razor meets WMAP

Using a variety of quantitative implementations of Occam's razor we examine the low quadrupole, the ``axis of evil'' effect and other detections recently made appealing to the excellent WMAP data. We find that some razors {\it fully} demolish the much lauded claims for departures from scale-invariance. They all reduce to pathetic levels the evidence for a low quadrupole (or any other low $\ell$ cut-off), both in the first and third year WMAP releases. The ``axis of evil'' effect is the only anomaly examined here that survives the humiliations of Occam's razor, and even then in the category of ``strong'' rather than ``decisive'' evidence. Statistical considerations aside, differences between the various renditions of the datasets remain worrying

Identifying the curvaton within MSSM

We consider inflaton couplings to MSSM flat directions and the thermalization of the inflaton decay products, taking into account gauge symmetry breaking due to flat direction condensates. We then search for a suitable curvaton candidate among the flat directions, requiring an early thermally induced start for the flat direction oscillations to facilitate the necessary curvaton energy density dominance. We demonstrate that the supersymmetry breaking $A$-term is crucial for achieving a successful curvaton scenario. Among the many possible candidates, we identify the ${\bf u_1dd}$ flat direction as a viable MSSM curvaton.Comment: 9 pages. Discussion on the evaporation of condensate added, final version published in JCA

Tuned MSSM Higgses as an inflaton

We consider the possibility that the vacuum energy density of the MSSM (Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model) flat direction condensate involving the Higgses H_1 and H_2 is responsible for inflation. We also discuss how the finely tuned Higgs potential at high vacuum expectation values can realize {\it cosmologically} flat direction along which it can generate the observed density perturbations, and after the end of inflation -- the coherent oscillations of the Higgses reheat the universe with all the observed degrees of freedom, without causing any problem for the electroweak phase transition.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Aspects of warm-flat directions

Considering the mechanism of dissipative slow-roll that has been used in warm inflation scenario, we show that dissipation may alter usual cosmological scenarios associated with SUSY-flat directions. We mainly consider SUSY-flat directions that have strong interactions with non-flat directions and may cause strong dissipation both in thermal and non-thermal backgrounds. An example is the Affleck-Dine mechanism in which dissipation may create significant (both qualitative and quantitative) discrepancies between the conventional scenario and the dissipative one. We also discuss several mechanisms of generating curvature perturbations in which the dissipative field, which is distinguished from the inflaton field, can be used as the source of cosmological perturbations. Considering the Morikawa-Sasaki dissipative coefficient, the damping caused by the dissipation may be significant for many MSSM flat directions even if the dissipation is far from thermal equilibrium.Comment: 22 pages, accepted for publication in International Journal of Modern Physics

Comments on SUSY inflation models on the brane

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 $n_s=0.96$.Comment: 7 page

Leptogenesis from a sneutrino condensate revisited

We re--examine leptogenesis from a right--handed sneutrino condensate, paying special attention to the $B-$term associated with the see--saw Majorana mass. This term generates a lepton asymmetry in the condensate whose time average vanishes. However, a net asymmetry will result if the sneutrino lifetime is not much longer than the period of oscillations. Supersymmetry breaking by thermal effects then yields a lepton asymmetry in the standard model sector after the condensate decays. We explore different possibilities by taking account of both the low--energy and Hubble $B-$terms. It will be shown that the desired baryon asymmetry of the Universe can be obtained for a wide range of Majorana mass.Comment: 17 revtex pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Slightly modified and references added. Final version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.