arXiv subjects

Anupam Mazumdar

Publications and source records attributed to Anupam Mazumdar.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

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.

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arXiv2007

Graceful exit from a stringy landscape via MSSM inflation

The cosmological evolution of the string landscape is expected to consist of multiple stages of old inflation with large cosmological constant ending by tunnelling. Old inflation has a well known graceful exit problem as the observable universe becomes empty, devoid of any entropy. Simultaneously, in the quest for reheating the right degrees of freedom, it is important that the final stage of inflation reheat Standard Model sector. It is known that inflation can occur naturally along a flat direction of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), solving the reheating problem, but the initial conditions require a large degree of fine-tuning. In this paper, we study how inflation of a MSSM flat direction can be embedded into the string theory landscape to solve both the graceful exit problem of old inflation and the fine-tuning problem of MSSM inflation, elaborating on ideas of Bousso and Polchinski. The fluctuations of the MSSM flat direction during old inflation create regions with initial conditions favorable for eternal inflation, which also allows the cosmological constant to continue to relax. This final phase of inflation also provides all the usual benefits of MSSM inflation, including straightforward reheating into Standard Model degrees of freedom.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Probing the parameter space for an MSSM inflation and the neutralino dark matter

The flat directions LLe and udd within the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model provide all the necessary ingredients for a successful inflation with the right amplitude of the scalar density perturbations, negligible gravity waves and the spectral tilt within 2σobserved range 0.92 \leq n_s \leq 1.0. In this paper we explore the available parameter space for inflation in conjunction with a thermal cold dark matter abundance within the minimal supergravity model. Remarkably for the inflaton, which is a combination of squarks and sleptons, there is a stau-neutralino coannihilation region below the inflaton mass 500 GeV for the observed density perturbations and the tilt of the spectrum. For such a low mass of the inflaton the LHC is capable of discovering the inflaton candidates within a short period of its operation. Inflation is also compatible with the focus point region which opens up for the inflaton masses above TeV. We show that embedding MSSM within SO(10) can naturally favor this region.

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arXiv2006

Quasi-thermal Universe and its implications for gravitino production, baryogenesis and dark matter

Under general circumstances full thermal equilibrium may not be established for a long period after perturbative or non-perturbative decay of the inflaton has completed. One can instead have a distribution of particles which is in kinetic equilibrium and evolves adiabatically during this period. Number-violating reactions which are required to establish chemical equilibrium can become efficient only at much later times. We highlight some of the striking consequences of such a quasi-thermal Universe. In particular, thermal gravitino production yields {\it no bound} on the maximum temperature of the primordial thermal bath alone. As another consequence, the lower bound on the mass of the lightest right-handed (s)neutrino from thermal leptogenesis can be $\gg 10^{9}$ GeV. Depending on the phase, a Wino or Higgsino considerably lighter than TeV, or a Bino in the bulk region, can be a viable {\it thermal} dark matter candidate. Finally the electroweak symmetry may never be restored in the early Universe, therefore weakening any hopes of realizing a successful electroweak baryogenesis.

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arXiv2006

Spectral tilt in A-term inflation

Recently in hep-ph/0605035 and hep-ph/0608138, we have shown that primordial inflation can be embedded within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, while providing the right amplitude for the density perturbations and a tilted spectrum which matches the current data. In this short note we show that the model predicts a range of spectral tilt, $0.92 \leq n_s \leq 1$, depending on deviation from the saddle point condition. The spectral tilt saturates the lower limit when the saddle point condition is met. On the other hand the upper limit can be achieved for a slight deviation towards the point of inflection. The running of the spectral tilt remains small, and the amplitude of the temperature anisotropies remains in the correct observational regime.

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arXiv2006

Non-perturbative Gravity, Hagedorn Bounce & CMB

In hep-th/0508194 it was shown how non-perturbative corrections to gravity can resolve the big bang singularity, leading to a bouncing universe. Depending on the scale of the non-perturbative corrections, the temperature at the bounce may be close to or higher than the Hagedorn temperature. If matter is made up of strings, then massive string states will be excited near the bounce, and the bounce will occur inside (or at the onset of) the Hagedorn phase for string matter. As we discuss in this paper, in this case cosmological fluctuations can be generated via the string gas mechanism recently proposed in hep-th/0511140. In fact, the model discussed here demonstrates explicitly that it is possible to realize the assumptions made in hep-th/0511140 in the context of a concrete set of dynamical background equations. We also calculate the spectral tilt of thermodynamic stringy fluctuations generated in the Hagedorn regime in this bouncing universe scenario. Generally we find a scale-invariant spectrum with a red tilt which is very small but does not vanish.

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arXiv2006

Sub-eV Hubble scale inflation within gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking

Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking has all the necessary ingredients for a successful sub-eV Hubble scale inflation $H_{\rm inf} \sim 10^{-3}-10^{-1}$ eV. The model generates the right amplitude for scalar density perturbations and a spectral tilt within the range, $0.90 \leq n_s \leq 1$. The reheat temperature is $T_{\rm R} \ls 10$ TeV, which strongly prefers electroweak baryogenesis and creates the right abundance of gravitinos with a mass $m_{3/2} \gs 100$ keV to be the dark matter.

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arXiv2006

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.

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arXiv2006

Supersymmetric Thermalization and Quasi-Thermal Universe: Consequences for Gravitinos and Leptogenesis

Motivated by our earlier paper \cite{am}, we discuss how the infamous gravitino problem has a natural built in solution within supersymmetry. Supersymmetry allows a large number of flat directions made up of {\it gauge invariant} combinations of squarks and sleptons. Out of many at least {\it one} generically obtains a large vacuum expectation value during inflation. Gauge bosons and Gauginos then obtain large masses by virtue of the Higgs mechanism. This makes the rate of thermalization after the end of inflation very small and as a result the Universe enters a {\it quasi-thermal phase} after the inflaton has completely decayed. A full thermal equilibrium is generically established much later on when the flat direction expectation value has substantially decareased. This results in low reheat temperatures, i.e., $T_{\rm R}\sim {\cal O}({\rm TeV})$, which are compatible with the stringent bounds arising from the big bang nucleosynthesis. There are two very important implications: the production of gravitinos and generation of a baryonic asymmetry via leptogenesis during the quasi-thermal phase. In both the cases the abundances depend not only on an effective temperature of the quasi-thermal phase (which could be higher, i.e., $T\gg T_{\rm R}$), but also on the state of equilibrium in the reheat plasma. We show that there is no ``thermal gravitino problem'' at all within supersymmetry and we stress on a need of a new paradigm based on a ``quasi-thermal leptogenesis'', because in the bulk of the parameter space the {\it old} thermal leptogenesis cannot account for the observed baryon asymmetry.

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arXiv2006

Gauge invariant MSSM inflaton

We argue that all the necessary ingredients for successful inflation are present in the flat directions of the Minimally Supersymmetric Standard Model. We show that out of many gauge invariant combinations of squarks, sleptons and Higgses, there are two directions, ${\bf LLe}$, and ${\bf udd}$, which are promising candidates for the inflaton. The model predicts more than $10^3$ e-foldings with an inflationary scale of $H_{\rm inf}\sim {\cal O}(1-10)$ GeV, provides a tilted spectrum with an amplitude of $δ_H\sim 10^{-5}$ and a negligible tensor perturbation. The temperature of the thermalized plasma could be as low as $T_{rh}\sim {\cal O}(1-10)$~TeV. Parts of the inflaton potential can be determined independently of cosmology by future particle physics experiments.

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arXiv2006

Very Large Primordial Non-Gaussianity from multi-field: Application to Massless Preheating

In this paper we derive a generic expression, which is valid for scales larger than Hubble radius and contains only the local terms, for the second order curvature perturbations for more than one field, provided the expansion is sourced by the energy density of a single field. As an application, motivated by our previous paper [1], we apply our formalism to two fields during preheating, where the inflaton oscillations are sourced by $λϕ^4$ potential which is governing the expansion of the Universe. A second field $σ$, coupled to the inflaton through $g^2ϕ^2σ^2$, is excited from the vacuum fluctuations. The excited modes of $σ$ amplify the super-Hubble isocurvature perturbations, which seed the second order curvature perturbations to give rise to a significantly large non-Gaussianity. Our results show that within 3 inflaton oscillations for a range of parameters, $1< g^2/λ< 3$, the non-Gaussianity parameter becomes: $f_{NL}\geq {\cal O}(1000)$, which is already ruled out by the current WMAP observation.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Current Acceleration from Dilaton and Stringy Cold Dark Matter

We argue that string theory has all the ingredients to provide us with candidates for the cold dark matter and explain the current acceleration of our Universe. In any generic string compactification the dilaton plays an important role as it couples to the Standard Model and other heavy non-relativistic degrees of freedom such as the string winding modes and wrapped branes, we collectively call them stringy cold dark matter. These couplings are non-universal which results in an interesting dynamics for a rolling dilaton. Initially, its potential can track radiation and matter while beginning to dominate the dynamics recently, triggering a phase of acceleration. This scenario can be realized as long as the dilaton also couples strongly to some heavy modes. We furnish examples of such modes. We provide analytical and numerical results and compare them with the current supernovae result. This favors certain stringy candidates.

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arXiv2005

Stringy Effects During Inflation and Reheating

We consider inflationary cosmology in the context of string compactifications with multiple throats. In scenarios where the warping differs significantly between throats, string and Kaluza-Klein physics can generate potentially observable corrections to the cosmology of inflation and reheating. First we demonstrate that a very low string scale in the ground state compactification is incompatible with a high Hubble scale during inflation, and we propose that the compactification geometry is altered during inflation. In this configuration, the lowest scale is just above the Hubble scale, which is compatible with effective field theory but still leads to potentially observable CMB corrections. Also in the appropriate region of parameter space, we find that reheating leads to a phase of long open strings in the Standard Model sector (before the usual radiation-dominated phase). We sketch the cosmology of the long string phase and we discuss possible observational consequences.

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arXiv2005

Bouncing Universes in String-inspired Gravity

We consider the effects on cosmology of higher-derivative modifications of (effective) gravity that make it asymptotically free without introducing ghosts. The weakening of gravity at short distances allows pressure to prevent the singularity, producing a solution with contraction preceding expansion.

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arXiv2005

Multiple Inflation, Cosmic String Networks and the String Landscape

Motivated by the string landscape we examine scenarios for which inflation is a two-step process, with a comparatively short inflationary epoch near the string scale and a longer period at a much lower energy (like the TeV scale). We quantify the number of $e$-foldings of inflation which are required to yield successful inflation within this picture. The constraints are very sensitive to the equation of state during the epoch between the two inflationary periods, as the extra-horizon modes can come back inside the horizon and become reprocessed. We find that the number of $e$-foldings during the first inflationary epoch can be as small as 12, but only if the inter-inflationary period is dominated by a network of cosmic strings (such as might be produced if the initial inflationary period is due to the brane-antibrane mechanism). In this case a further 20 $e$-foldings of inflation would be required at lower energies to solve the late universe's flatness and horizon problems.

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arXiv2005

Supermassive gravitinos, dark matter, leptogenesis and flat direction baryogenesis

In general the gravitino mass and/or the soft supersymmetry breaking masses in the observable sector can be much larger than the TeV scale. Depending on the relation between the masses, new important channels for gravitino production in the early Universe can arise. Gravitinos with a mass above 50 TeV decay before big bang nucleosynthesis, which leads to relaxation of the well known bound on the reheating temperature $T_{\rm R} \leq 10^{10}$ GeV. However, if the heavy gravitinos are produced abundantly in the early Universe, their decay can alter the abundance of the lightest supersymmetric particle. Moreover, they may dominate the energy density of the Universe. Their decay will in this case increase entropy and dilute already created baryon asymmetry and dark matter. Such considerations put new constraints on gravitino and sfermion masses, and the reheating temperature. In this paper we examine various cosmological consequences of supermassive gravitinos. We discuss advnatges and disadvantages of a large reheating temperature in connection with thermal leptogenesis, and find that large parts of the parameter space are opened up for the lightest right-handed (s)neutrino mass. We also discuss the viability of Affleck-Dine baryogenesis under the constraints from gravitino decay, and gravitino production from the decay of Q-balls.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Cosmological constraints on string scale and coupling arising from tachyonic instability

We demonstrate that string motivated inflation ending via tachyonic instability leaves a detectable imprint on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation by virtue of the excitation of non-Gaussian gravitational fluctuations. The present WMAP bound on non-Gaussianity is shown to constrain the string scale by $M_S/M_P\leq 10^{-4}$ for string coupling $g_{s}<0.1$, hence improving the existing bounds. If tachyon fluctuations during inflation are not negligible, we find the stringent constraint $g_s\sim 10^{-9}$ for $M_{S}/M_{P}<10^{-3}$. This case may soon be ruled out by the forthcoming CMB non-Gaussinianity bounds.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Non-Gaussianity from Instant and Tachyonic Preheating

We study non-Gaussianity in two distinct models of preheating: instant and tachyonic. In instant preheating non-Gaussianity is sourced by the local terms generated through the coupled perturbations of the two scalar fields. We find that the non-Gaussianity parameter is given by $f_{NL}^ϕ\sim 2g < O(1)$, where $g$ is a coupling constant, so that instant preheating is unlikely to be constrained by WMAP or Planck. In the case of tachyonic preheating non-Gaussianity arises solely from the instability of the tachyon matter and is found to be large. We find that for single field inflation the present WMAP data implies a bound $V_{0}^{1/4}/M_{P}\leq 10^{-4}$ on the scale of tachyonic instability. We argue that the tachyonic preheating limits are useful also for string-motivated inflationary models.

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