On the Topology of the Inflaton Field in Minimal Supergravity Models

We consider global issues in minimal supergravity models where a single field inflaton potential emerges. In a particular case we reproduce the Starobinsky model and its description dual to a certain formulation of R+R^2 supergravity. For definiteness we confine our analysis to spaces at constant curvature, either vanishing or negative. Five distinct models arise, two flat models with respectively a quadratic and a quartic potential and three based on the SU(1,1)/U(1) space where its distinct isometries, elliptic, hyperbolic and parabolic are gauged. Fayet-Iliopoulos terms are introduced in a geometric way and they turn out to be a crucial ingredient in order to describe the de Sitter inflationary phase of the Starobinsky model.Comment: 31 pages, LaTex, 7 eps figures, 2 table

R-Symmetry and the Topological Twist of N=2 Effective Supergravities of Heterotic Strings

We discuss R-symmetries in locally supersymmetric N=2 gauge theories coupled to hypermultiplets which can be thought of as effective theories of heterotic superstring models. In this type of supergravities a suitable R-symmetry exists and can be used to topologically twist the theory: the vector multiplet containing the dilaton-axion field has different R-charge assignments with respect to the other vector multiplets. Correspondingly a system of coupled instanton equations emerges, mixing gravitational and Yang--Mills instantons with triholomorphic hyperinstantons and axion-instantons. For the tree-level classical special manifolds $ST(n)=SU(1,1)/U(1)\times SO(2,n)/(SO(2)$ $\times SO(n))$ R-symmetry with the specified properties is a continuous symmetry, but for the quantum corrected manifolds ${\hat {ST}}(n)$ a discrete R--group of electric--magnetic duality rotations is sufficient and we argue that it exists.Comment: 40 pages, plain LaTeX. Final version to appear on IJMP

Brane solutions and integrability: a status report

We review the status of the integrability and solvability of the geodesics equations of motion on symmetric coset spaces that appear as sigma models of supergravity theories when reduced over respectively the timelike and spacelike direction. Such geodesic curves describe respectively timelike and spacelike brane solutions. We emphasize the applications to black holes.Comment: 4 pages, Proceedings of ERE 2010, Granada, 6-10 september 201