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arXiv · 0811.1989

A Natural Framework for Chaotic Inflation

Nemanja Kaloper·Lorenzo Sorbo
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Abstract

We show that inflation with a quadratic potential occurs naturally in theories where an axion-like field mixes with a 4-form. Such an axion is massive, with the mass which arises from the mixing being protected by the axion shift symmetry. The 4-form backgrounds break this symmetry spontaneously and comprise a mini-landscape, where their fluxes can change by emission of membranes. Inflation can begin when the 4-form dominates the energy density. Eventually this energy is reduced by membrane emission and the axion can roll slowly towards its minimum, as in the simplest version of chaotic inflation.

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Nemanja Kaloper, Lorenzo Sorbo. 2009-04-13. A Natural Framework for Chaotic Inflation. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.102.121301

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