150 research outputs found
Advances in Inflation in String Theory
We provide a pedagogical overview of inflation in string theory. Our theme is
the sensitivity of inflation to Planck-scale physics, which we argue provides
both the primary motivation and the central theoretical challenge for the
subject. We illustrate these issues through two case studies of inflationary
scenarios in string theory: warped D-brane inflation and axion monodromy
inflation. Finally, we indicate how future observations can test scenarios of
inflation in string theory.Comment: 60 pages, 1 figure. Invited review to appear in Annu. Rev. Nuc. Part.
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The Newtonian Limit of Hermitian Gravity
We construct the gauge invariant potentials of Hermitian Gravity and derive
the linearized equations of motion they obey. A comparison reveals a striking
similarity to the Bardeen potentials of general relativity. We then consider
the response to a point particle source, and discuss in what sense the
solutions of Hermitian Gravity reduce to the Newtonian potentials. In a rather
intriguing way, the Hermitian Gravity solutions exhibit a generalized
reciprocity symmetry originally proposed by Born in the 1930s. Finally, we
consider the trajectories of massive and massless particles under the influence
of a potential. The theory correctly reproduces the Newtonian limit in three
dimensions and the nonrelativistic acceleration equation. However, it differs
from the light deflection calculated in linearized generalrelativity by 25%.
While the specific complexification of general relativity by extension to
Hermitian spaces performed here does not agree with experiment, it does possess
useful properties for quantization and is well-behaved around singularities.
Another form of complex general relativity may very well agree with
experimental data.Comment: The published version in Gen. Rel. Grav. 24 pages, no figure
Cosmological attractor models and higher curvature supergravity
We study cosmological \u3b1-attractors in superconformal/supergravity models, where \u3b1 is related to the geometry of the moduli space. For \u3b1 = 1 attractors [1] we present a generalization of the previously known manifestly superconformal higher curvature supergravity model [2]. The relevant standard 2-derivative supergravity with a minimum of two chiral multiplets is shown to be dual to a 4-derivative higher curvature supergravity, where in general one of the chiral superfields is traded for a curvature superfield. There is a degenerate case when both matter superfields become non-dynamical and there is only a chiral curvature superfield, pure higher derivative supergravity. Generic \u3b1-models [3] interpolate between the attractor point at \u3b1 = 0 and generic chaotic inflation models at large \u3b1, in the limit when the inflaton moduli space becomes flat. They have higher derivative duals with the same number of matter fields as the original theory or less, but at least one matter multiplet remains. In the context of these models, the detection of primordial gravity waves will provide information on the curvature of the inflaton submanifold of the K\ue4hler manifold, and we will learn if the inflaton is a fundamental matter multiplet, or can be replaced by a higher derivative curvature excitation. \ua9 2014 The Author(s)
Comments on gauge-invariance in cosmology
We revisit the gauge issue in cosmological perturbation theory, and highlight
its relation to the notion of covariance in general relativity. We also discuss
the similarities and differences of the covariant approach in perturbation
theory to the Bardeen or metric approach in a non-technical fashion.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, revtex4; v3: minor changes, typos corrected,
discussion extended; v4: typos corrected, corresponding to published versio
A Distinguished Vacuum State for a Quantum Field in a Curved Spacetime: Formalism, Features, and Cosmology
We define a distinguished "ground state" or "vacuum" for a free scalar
quantum field in a globally hyperbolic region of an arbitrarily curved
spacetime. Our prescription is motivated by the recent construction of a
quantum field theory on a background causal set using only knowledge of the
retarded Green's function. We generalize that construction to continuum
spacetimes and find that it yields a distinguished vacuum or ground state for a
non-interacting, massive or massless scalar field. This state is defined for
all compact regions and for many noncompact ones. In a static spacetime we find
that our vacuum coincides with the usual ground state. We determine it also for
a radiation-filled, spatially homogeneous and isotropic cosmos, and show that
the super-horizon correlations are approximately the same as those of a thermal
state. Finally, we illustrate the inherent non-locality of our prescription
with the example of a spacetime which sandwiches a region with curvature
in-between flat initial and final regions
A simplified structure for the second order cosmological perturbation equations
Increasingly accurate observations of the cosmic microwave background and the
large scale distribution of galaxies necessitate the study of nonlinear
perturbations of Friedmann-Lemaitre cosmologies, whose equations are
notoriously complicated. In this paper we present a new derivation of the
governing equations for second order perturbations within the framework of the
metric-based approach that is minimal, as regards amount of calculation and
length of expressions, and flexible, as regards choice of gauge and
stress-energy tensor. Because of their generality and the simplicity of their
structure our equations provide a convenient starting point for determining the
behaviour of nonlinear perturbations of FL cosmologies with any given
stress-energy content, using either the Poisson gauge or the uniform curvature
gauge.Comment: 30 pages, no figures. Changed title to the one in published version
and some minor changes and addition
Lorentz-violating vs ghost gravitons: the example of Weyl gravity
We show that the ghost degrees of freedom of Einstein gravity with a Weyl
term can be eliminated by a simple mechanism that invokes local Lorentz
symmetry breaking. We demonstrate how the mechanism works in a cosmological
setting. The presence of the Weyl term forces a redefinition of the quantum
vacuum state of the tensor perturbations. As a consequence the amplitude of
their spectrum blows up when the Lorentz-violating scale becomes comparable to
the Hubble radius. Such a behaviour is in sharp contrast to what happens in
standard Weyl gravity where the gravitational ghosts smoothly damp out the
spectrum of primordial gravitational waves.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, REVTeX 4.
Starobinsky-like inflation in no-scale supergravity Wess-Zumino model with Polonyi term
We propose a simple modification of the no-scale supergravity Wess-Zumino
model of Starobinsky-like inflation to include a Polonyi term in the
superpotential. The purpose of this term is to provide an explicit mechanism
for supersymmetry breaking at the end of inflation. We show how successful
inflation can be achieved for a gravitino mass satisfying the strict upper
bound TeV, with favoured values
TeV. The model suggests that SUSY may be discovered in collider physics
experiments such as the LHC or the FCC.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure
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