arXiv subjects

Ignatios Antoniadis

Publications and source records attributed to Ignatios Antoniadis.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

Addendum to "Ultraviolet behaviour of Higgs inflation models"

This article is an addendum to [1]. We extend our computation of the on-shell scattering amplitudes in an arbitrary inflaton background $\barϕ_1$. Although the effective Einstein frame cutoff for $\barϕ_1>>M_P/\sqrtξ$ turns out to be $\barϕ_1$ or $ξ\barϕ_1$ for the $U(1)$ model, this is not the case for the realistic doublet Higgs model where the effective Einstein frame cutoff turns out to be the standard $M_P/\sqrtξ$ for both the Palatini and metric formulations. Then, as it has been pointed out in [1] the background $\barϕ_1$ is the effective Jordan frame cutoff for both the Palatini and metric formulations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Leptophilic U(1) Massive Vector Bosons from Large Extra Dimensions: Reexamination of Constraints from LEP Data

Very recently, we proposed an explanation of the discrepancy between the measured anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and the Standard Model (SM) prediction in which the dominant contribution to $(g-2)_μ$ originates in Kaluza-Klein (KK) excitations (of the lepton gauge boson) which do not mix with quarks (to lowest order) and therefore can be quite light avoiding LHC constraints. In this addendum we reexamine the bounds on 4-fermion contact interactions from precise electroweak measurements and show that the constraints on KK masses and couplings are more severe than earlier thought. However, we demonstrate that our explanation remains plausible if a few KK modes are lighter than LEP energy, because if this were the case the contribution to the 4-fermion scattering from the internal propagator would be dominated by the energy and not by the mass. To accommodate the $(g-2)_μ$ discrepancy we assume that the lepton number $L$ does not partake in the hypercharge and propagates in one extra dimension (transverse to the SM branes): for a mass of the lowest KK excitation of 60 GeV (lower than the LEP energy), the string scale is roughly 10 TeV while the $L$ gauge coupling is of order $\sim 10^{-1}$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Refined Topological Amplitudes from the $Ω$-Background in String Theory

It was recently shown that the $\mathcal{N}$ = 2 string topological amplitudes in the heterotic weak coupling limit generate a six-dimensional Melvin space, providing a description of the $Ω$-background in string theory, where string propagation can be exactly studied. In this work, we generalise the analysis to the refined case of the $Ω$-background with two independent deformation parameters. The Melvin space is now ten-dimensional and is extended by an action on the internal K3 compactification manifold of the heterotic superstring, corresponding to an ${\rm SU(2)}_R$ rotation in the field theory description. We identify the class of heterotic topological amplitudes realising this background as the scattering of two anti-self-dual gravitons and arbitrary numbers of anti-self-dual graviphotons, self-dual vector fields of the dilaton multiplet, together with self-dual magnetic fluxes along the K3. In the field theory limit, our result correctly reproduces the perturbative part of the Nekrasov free energy in the case where both equivariant parameters are turned on.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Hybrid inflation and waterfall field in string theory from D7-branes

We present an explicit string realisation of a cosmological inflationary scenario we proposed recently within the framework of type IIB flux compactifications in the presence of three magnetised D7-brane stacks. Inflation takes place around a metastable de Sitter vacuum. The inflaton is identified with the volume modulus and has a potential with a very shallow minimum near the maximum. Inflation ends due to the presence of "waterfall" fields that drive the evolution of the Universe from a nearby saddle point towards a global minimum with tuneable vacuum energy describing the present state of our Universe.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Quintic constraints for ${\cal N}=2$ multiplets and complete SUSY breaking

We study real fifth-order superfield constraint for ${\cal N}=2$ vector (and tensor) multiplet and derive most general solution describing complete supersymmetry breaking, and preserving a real scalar, two goldstini, and an abelian gauge field as low-energy degrees of freedom on which both supersymmetries are realized non-linearly. The surviving scalar is identified as an axion of a broken global abelian symmetry, while its scalar partner (saxion) is eliminated in terms of the goldstini. We provide an example of a UV model giving rise to the quintic constraint, and discuss the connection of this constraint and its solution to other known superfield constraints in ${\cal N}=2$ and ${\cal N}=1$ cases.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Reheating after inflation by supersymmetry breaking

We study reheating after the end of inflation in models where the inflaton is the superpartner of goldstino and is charged under a gauged $U(1)$ R-symmetry. We consider two classes of models -- one is small field characterized by an almost flat Kähler space, and the other large field characterized by a hyperbolic Kähler space $SU(1,1)/U(1)$, while in both cases the inflaton superpotential is linear due to the R-symmetry. The inflationary observables of our models fit within 2$σ$ CMB values. Upon coupling the inflaton sector to the (supersymmetric) Standard Model, we compute the MSSM parameters, mass spectrum, and decay modes of the inflaton, with the resulting reheating temperature around $10^8$ GeV. We also find that both models can accommodate superheavy LSP dark matter, depending on the parameter choice.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Brane-world asymptotics in a nonlinear fluid bulk

We present recent results on the asymptotics of a brane-world that consists of a flat 3-brane embedded in a five-dimensional bulk. The bulk matter is modelled by a fluid that satisfies a nonlinear equation of state. We show that for appropriate ranges of the equation of state parameters, it is possible to construct a regular solution, compatible with energy conditions, that successfully localizes gravity on the brane. These results improve significantly previous findings on the study of a bulk fluid with a linear equation of state.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Regular braneworlds with bulk fluids

We review studies on the singularity structure and asymptotic analysis of a 3-brane (flat or curved) embedded in a five-dimensional bulk filled with a `perfect fluid' with an equation of state with the `pressure' and the `density' of the fluid depending on the fifth space coordinate. Regular solutions satisfying positive energy conditions in the bulk exist only in the cases of a flat brane with an EoS parameter equal to -1, or of AdS branes for EoS parameter values in suitable intervals. More cases can be found by gluing two regular branches of solutions at the position of the brane. However, only the case of a flat brane with an EoS parameter equal to -1 leads to finite Planck mass on the brane and thus localises gravity. In a more recent work, we showed that a way to rectify the previous findings and obtain a solution for a flat brane in a finite range of the EoS parameter, which is both free from finite-distance singularities and compatible with the physical conditions of energy and finiteness of four-dimensional Planck mass, is by introducing a bulk fluid component that satisfies a nonlinear equation of state.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Leptophilic U(1) Massive Vector Bosons from Large Extra Dimensions

We demonstrate that the discrepancy between the anomalous magnetic moment measured at BNL and Fermilab and the Standard Model prediction could be explained within the context of low-scale gravity and large extra-dimensions. The dominant contribution to $(g-2)_μ$ originates in Kaluza-Klein (KK) excitations (of the lepton gauge boson) which do not mix with quarks (to lowest order) and therefore can be quite light avoiding LHC constraints. We show that the KK contribution to $(g-2)_μ$ is universal with the string scale entering as an effective cutoff. The KK tower provides a unequivocal distinctive signal which will be within reach of the future muon smasher.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Aspects of compactification on a linear dilaton background

We consider the most general Kaluza-Klein (KK) compactification on $S^1/\mathbb{Z}_2$ of a five dimensional ($5D$) graviton-dilaton system, with a non-vanishing dilaton background varying linearly along the fifth dimension. We show that this background produces a Higgs mechanism for the KK vector coming from the $5D$ metric, which becomes massive by absorbing the string frame radion. The $\mathcal{N}=2$ minimal supersymmetric extension of this model, recently built as the holographic dual of Little String Theory, is then re-investigated. An analogous mechanism can be considered for the $4D$ vector coming from the (universal) $5D$ Kalb-Ramond two-form. Packaging the two massive vectors into a spin-$3/2$ massive multiplet, it is shown that the massless spectrum arranges into a $\mathcal{N}=1$, $D=4$ supersymmetric theory. This projection is compatible with an orbifold which preserves half of the original supersymmetries already preserved by the background. The description of the partial breaking $\mathcal{N}=2\rightarrow\mathcal{N}=1$ in this framework, with only vector multiplets and no hypermultiplets, remains an interesting open question which deserves further investigation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Regular braneworlds with nonlinear bulk-fluids

We construct a regular five-dimensional brane-world with localised gravity on a flat 3-brane. The matter content in the bulk is parametrised by an analog of a non-linear fluid with equation of state $p=γρ^λ$ between the `pressure' $p$ and the `density' $ρ$ dependent on the 5th dimension. For $γ$ negative and $λ>1$, the null energy condition is satisfied, and the geometry is free of singularities within finite distance from the brane, while the induced four-dimensional Planck mass is finite.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Ultraviolet behaviour of Higgs inflation models

We study the ultraviolet behaviour of Higgs inflation models above the apparent unitarity violation scale arising from the large non minimal coupling to gravity, by computing on-shell 4-point scattering amplitudes in the presence of a large inflaton background, away from the electroweak vacuum. We find that all tree-level amplitudes are well behaved at high energies below the inflaton background that can thus take values up to the Planck scale. This result holds in both the metric and Palatini formulation, and is independent of the frame (Jordan or Einstein) as expected. The same result also holds if an $R^2$ term is added to the action.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Muon ${g-2}$ discrepancy within D-brane string compactifications

Very recently, the Muon $g-2$ experiment at Fermilab has confirmed the E821 Brookhaven result, which hinted at a deviation of the muon anomalous magnetic moment from the Standard Model (SM) expectation. The combined results from Brookhaven and Fermilab show a difference with the SM prediction $δa_μ= (251 \pm 59) \times 10^{-11}$ at a significance of $4.2σ$, strongly indicating the presence of new physics. Motivated by this new result we reexamine the contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment from both: (i)~the ubiquitous $U(1)$ gauge bosons of D-brane string theory constructions and (ii)~the Regge excitations of the string. We show that, for a string scale ${\cal O} ({\rm PeV})$, the contribution from anomalous $U(1)$ gauge bosons which couple to hadrons could help to reduce (though not fully eliminate) the discrepancy reported by the Muon $g-2$ Collaboration. Consistency with null results from LHC searches of new heavy vector bosons imparts the dominant constraint. We demonstrate that the contribution from Regge excitations is strongly suppressed as it was previously conjectured. We also comment on contributions from Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes, which could help resolve the $δa_μ$ discrepancy. In particular, we argue that for 4-stack intersecting D-brane models, the KK excitations of the $U(1)$ boson living on the lepton brane would not couple to hadrons and therefore can evade the LHC bounds while fully bridging the $δa_μ$ gap observed at Brookhaven and Fermilab.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

S-dual Inflation and the String Swampland

The Swampland de Sitter conjecture in combination with upper limits on the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ derived from observations of the cosmic microwave background endangers the paradigm of slow-roll single field inflation. This conjecture constrains the first and the second derivatives of the inflationary potential in terms of two ${\cal O} (1)$ constants $c$ and $c'$. In view of these restrictions we reexamine single-field inflationary potentials with $S$-duality symmetry, which ameliorate the unlikeliness problem of the initial condition. We compute $r$ at next-to-leading order in slow-roll parameters for the most general form of $S$-dual potentials and confront model predictions to constraints imposed by the de Sitter conjecture. We find that $c \sim {\cal O} (10^{-1})$ and $c' \sim {\cal O} (10^{-2})$ can accommodate the 95\% CL upper limit on $r$. By imposing at least 50 $e$-folds of inflation with the effective field theory description only valid over a field displacement ${\cal O} (1)$ when measured as a distance in the target space geometry, we further restrict $c \sim {\cal O} (10^{-2})$, while the constraint on $c'$ remains unchanged. We comment on how to accommodate the required small values of $c$ and $c'$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Cosmology of the string derived flipped $SU(5)$

We study the cosmology of a string derived supersymmetric flipped $SU(5)$ model in the context of free-fermionic heterotic constructions that allow full calculability of the effective supergravity in perturbation theory around the fermionic vacuum where all string moduli have fixed values. The model has 3 generations of chiral families and a Higgs sector leading to particle phenomenology consistent with low energy data, that has been extensively studied in the past. Here, we show that it can also accommodate a novel successful cosmology, based on the no-scale effective supergravity derived from string theory as well as an appropriate induced superpotential suppressed by five powers of the string scale. It utilises two gauge singlet chiral superfields present in the low energy spectrum: the inflaton $y$, identified as the superpartner of a state mixed with R-handed neutrinos, and the goldstino $z$ with a superpotential of the form $W_I=M_I z(y-λy^2)$ (in supergravity units) where $λ$ is a dimensionless ${\cal O}\left(1\right)$ parameter and $M_I$ the mass scale of inflation generated at 5th order by the breaking of an anomalous $U(1)_A$ gauge symmetry, characteristic of heterotic string chiral vacua. The resulting scalar potential leads to Starobinsky type inflation. Our results can be easily generalised to a large class of models with similar properties.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Dark energy, Ricci-nonflat spaces, and the Swampland

It was recently pointed out that the existence of dark energy imposes highly restrictive constraints on effective field theories that satisfy the Swampland conjectures. We provide a critical confrontation of these constraints with the cosmological framework emerging from the Salam-Sezgin model and its string realization by Cvetic, Gibbons, and Pope. We also discuss the implication of the constraints for string model building.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Geodesic incompleteness and partially covariant gravity

We study the issue of length renormalization in the context of fully covariant gravity theories as well as non-relativistic ones such as Hořava-Lifshitz gravity. The difference of their symmetry groups implies a relation between the lengths of paths in spacetime in the two types of theory. Provided that certain asymptotic conditions hold, this relation allows us to transfer analytic criteria for the standard spacetime length to be finite to the Perelman length to be likewise finite, and therefore formulate conditions for geodesic incompleteness in partially covariant theories. We also discuss implications of this result for the issue of singularities in the context of such theories.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Note on initial conditions for small-field inflation

We show that initial conditions for small-field inflation can be determined quantum mechanically by introducing a suitable flattened region in the scalar potential. The inflaton is then driven towards the slow-roll attractor solution exponentially fast, desensitising inflation from the initial velocity and partially evading the so-called overshoot problem. We give an explicit example in the context of hilltop inflation by introducing an ultra slow-roll plateau around the maximum of the potential and analyse its effect on the phase-space trajectories.

hep-th↗