Universality Classes of Scale Invariant Inflation

We investigate the inflationary implications of extensions of Poincare symmetry. The simplest constructions with local scale invariance lead to universal predictions: the spectral index is $n_s = 1-2/N$, in excellent agreement with Planck data, while the tensor-to-scalar ratio is determined by a free parameter to $r = 12 \alpha / N^2$. For the special value $\alpha=1$ one finds symmetry enhancement to the full conformal group. We show that these findings hold both for two-derivative scalar-tensor theories as well as higher-derivative gravity. Therefore scale invariance underlies a promising set of inflationary models.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur

General sGoldstino Inflation

We prove that all inflationary models, including those with dark energy after the end of inflation, can be embedded in minimal supergravity with a single chiral superfield. Moreover, the amount of supersymmetry breaking is independently tunable due to a degeneracy in the choice for the superpotential. The inflaton is a scalar partner of the Goldstino in this set-up. We illustrate our general procedure with two examples that are favoured by the Planck data.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures; v2: refs added, published versio

Cosmological Attractors from α\alpha-Scale Supergravity

The Planck value of the spectral index can be interpreted as $n_s = 1 - 2/N$ in terms of the number of e-foldings $N$. An appealing explanation for this phenomenological observation is provided by $\alpha$-attractors: the inflationary predictions of these supergravity models are fully determined by the curvature of the Kahler manifold. We provide a novel formulation of $\alpha$-attractors which only involves a single chiral superfield. Our construction involves a natural deformation of no-scale models, and employs these to construct a De Sitter plateau with an exponential fall-off. Finally, we show how analogous structures with a flat Kahler geometry arise as a singular limit of such $\alpha$-scale models.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. v3: minor clarifications and refs added. PRD versio

The double attractor behavior of induced inflation

We describe an induced inflation, which refers to a class of inflationary models with a generalized non-minimal coupling $\xi g(\phi) R$ and a specific scalar potential. The defining property of these models is that the scalar field takes a vev in the vacuum and thus induces an effective Planck mass. We study this model as a function of the coupling parameter $\xi$. At large $\xi$, the predictions of the theory are known to have an attractor behavior, converging to a universal result independent on the choice of the function $g(\phi)$. We find that at small $\xi$, the theory approaches a second attractor. The inflationary predictions of this class of theories continuously interpolate between those of the Starobinsky model and the predictions of the simplest chaotic inflation with a quadratic potential.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; v2: refs added, accepted by JHE

Internal Supersymmetry and Small-field Goldstini

The dynamics of the Goldstino mode of spontaneously broken supersymmetry is universal, being fully determined by the non-linearly realized symmetry. We investigate the small-field limit of this theory. This model non-linearly realizes an alternative supersymmetry algebra with vanishing anti-commutators between the fermionic generators, much like an internal supersymmetry. This Goldstino theory is akin to the Galilean scalar field theory that arises as the small-field limit of Dirac-Born-Infeld theory and non-linearly realizes the Galilean symmetry. Indeed, the small-field Goldstino is the partner of a complex Galilean scalar field under conventional supersymmetry. We close with the generalization to extended internal supersymmetry and a discussion of its higher-dimensional origin.Comment: 12 pages, v2: references added, typos corrected, discussion about a fermionic invariant improve

Moduli Backreaction on Inflationary Attractors

We investigate the interplay between moduli dynamics and inflation, focusing on the KKLT-scenario and cosmological $\alpha$-attractors. General couplings between these sectors can induce a significant backreaction and potentially destroy the inflationary regime; however, we demonstrate that this generically does not happen for $\alpha$-attractors. Depending on the details of the superpotential, the volume modulus can either be stable during the entire inflationary trajectory, or become tachyonic at some point and act as a waterfall field, resulting in a sudden end of inflation. In the latter case there is a universal supersymmetric minimum where the scalars end up, preventing the decompactification scenario. The gravitino mass is independent from the inflationary scale with no fine-tuning of the parameters. The observational predictions conform to the universal value of attractors, fully compatible with the Planck data, with possibly a capped number of e-folds due to the interplay with moduli.Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures. v2: minor clarifications and refs added. PRD versio

Cluster of Botulism among dutch tourists in Turkey, june 2008

In June 2008, three Dutch tourists participating in a mini-cruise in Turkey needed urgent repatriation for antitoxin treatment because of symptoms of botulism. Because there was a shortage of antitoxin in the Netherlands, an emergency delivery was requested from the manufacturer in Germany. An outbreak investigation was initiated into all nine cruise members, eight of whom developed symptoms. C. botulinum type B was isolated in stool culture from four of them. No other patients were notified locally. Food histories revealed locally purchased unprocessed black olives, consumed on board of the ship, as most likely source, but no leftovers were available for investigation. C. botulinum type D was detected in locally purchased canned peas, and whilst type D is not known to be a cause of human intoxication, its presence in a canned food product indicates an inadequate preserving process. With increasing tourism to areas where food-borne botulism is reported regularly special requests for botulism antitoxin may become necessary. Preparing an inventory of available reserve stock in Europe would appear to be a necessary and valuable undertaking

LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE FOOD SAFETY CONTROL OF LIVE ANIMALS IN CHINA

In 2002, both China and the EU suffered from a trade dispute over animal products. The aim of the report is to document this framework, in order to make a constructive contribution towards bridging the gap of understanding and accessibility of the countries' procedures in particular and of their trade relations in general. This report illustrates how the Chinese legal and institutional system differs from that in the EU. Laws, administrative documents and regulations are all part of the Chinese legal system and have an equally binding force. The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) are the two most important institutions monitoring food safety in China.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade,

Twin Supergravities

We study the phenomenon that pairs of supergravities can have identical bosonic field content but different fermionic extensions. Such twin theories are classified and shown to originate as truncations of a common theory with more supersymmetry. Moreover, we discuss the possible gaugings and scalar potentials of twin theories. This allows to pinpoint to which extent these structures are determined by the purely bosonic structure of the underlying Kac-Moody algebras and where supersymmetry comes to plays its role. As an example, we analyze the gaugings of the six-dimensional N=(0,1) and N=(2,1) theories with identical bosonic sector and explicitly work out their scalar potentials. The discrepancy between the potentials finds a natural explanation within maximal supergravity, in which both theories may be embedded.Comment: 27 pages. v2: ref added, published versio

D3‾\overline{D3} Induced Geometric Inflation

Effective supergravity inflationary models induced by anti-D3 brane interaction with the moduli fields in the bulk geometry have a geometric description. The K\"ahler function carries the complete geometric information on the theory. The non-vanishing bisectional curvature plays an important role in the construction. The new geometric formalism, with the nilpotent superfield representing the anti-D3 brane, allows a powerful generalization of the existing inflationary models based on supergravity. They can easily incorporate arbitrary values of the Hubble parameter, cosmological constant and gravitino mass. We illustrate it by providing generalized versions of polynomial chaotic inflation, T- and E-models of $\alpha$-attractor type, disk merger. We also describe a multi-stage cosmological attractor regime, which we call cascade inflation.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, v2: typos corrected, v3: references adde