arXiv subjects

Ivonne Zavala

Publications and source records attributed to Ivonne Zavala.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Revisiting Coupling Selection Rules in Heterotic Orbifold Models

We study L-point couplings between twisted sector fields in heterotic orbifold compactifications, using conformal field theory. Selection rules provide an easy way to identify which couplings are non-vanishing. Those used in the current literature are gauge invariance, R-charge conservation and the space group selection rule, but they are not the whole story. We revive and refine a fourth selection rule, due to symmetries in the underlying torus lattice, and introduce a fifth one, due to the existence or not of classical worldsheet instanton solutions to mediate the couplings. We consider briefly the phenomenological consequences of the additional rules, in particular for recent orbifold constructions whose field content correspond to that of the MSSM. The structure of the exotic mass matrices is unaltered and many dimension-5 proton-decay operators vanish.

hep-th↗

arXiv2012

Statistical Anisotropy from Vector Curvaton in D-brane Inflation

We investigate the possibility of embedding the vector curvaton paradigm in D-brane models of inflation in Type IIB string theory in a simple toy model. The vector curvaton is identified with the U(1) gauge field that lives on the world volume of a D3-brane, which may be stationary or undergoing general motion in the internal space. The dilaton is considered as a spectator field which modulates the evolution of the vector field. In this set up, the vector curvaton is able to generate measurable statistical anisotropy in the spectrum and bispectrum of the curvature perturbation assuming that the dilaton evolves as e^(-ϕ)\propto a^2 where a(t) is the scale factor. Our work constitutes a first step towards exploring how such distinctive features may arise from the presence of several light fields that naturally appear in string theory models of cosmology.

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arXiv2012

Axiology

Axions might play a crucial role for the solution of the strong CP-problem and explanation of cold dark matter in the universe. In addition they may find applications in the formulation of inflationary models for the early universe and can serve as candidates for quintessence. We show that all these phenomena can be described within a single framework exhibiting a specific pattern of mass scales: the axionic see-saw. We also discuss the role of supersymmetry (susy) in this axionic system in two specific examples: weak scale susy in the (multi) TeV range and tele-susy with a breakdown scale coinciding with the decay constant of the QCD axion: $f_a\sim 10^{11}-10^{12}$ GeV.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

A geometric bound on F-term inflation

We discuss a general bound on the possibility to realise inflation in any minimal supergravity with F-terms. The derivation crucially depends on the sGoldstini, the scalar field directions that are singled out by spontaneous supersymmetry breaking. The resulting bound involves both slow-roll parameters and the geometry of the Kähler manifold of the chiral scalars. We analyse the inflationary implications of this bound, and in particular discuss to what extent the requirements of single field and slow-roll can both be met in F-term inflation.

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arXiv2012

Lifshitz black holes in IIA supergravity

We compute string theoretic black hole solutions having Lifshitz asymptotics with a general dynamical exponent z>1. We start by constructing solutions in a flux compactification of six dimensional supergravity, then uplift them to massive type IIA supergravity. Alongside the Lifshitz black holes we study the simpler anti-de Sitter solutions, of which there are a 1-parameter family in this supergravity, and compare and contrast their properties. The black holes are characterized by a two-form and scalar charge, and we numerically explore their configuration space and thermodynamical aspects.

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arXiv2011

Nontrival Cosmological Constant in Brane Worlds with Unorthodox Lagrangians

In self-tuning brane-world models with extra dimensions, large contributions to the cosmological constant are absorbed into the curvature of extra dimensions and consistent with flat 4d geometry. In models with conventional Lagrangians fine-tuning is needed nevertheless to ensure a finite effective Planck mass. Here, we consider a class of models with non conventional Lagrangian in which known problems can be avoided. Unfortunately these models are found to suffer from tachyonic instabilities. An attempt to cure these instabilities leads to the prediction of a positive cosmological constant, which in turn needs a fine-tuning to be consistent with observations.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

On Moduli Stabilisation and de Sitter Vacua in MSSM Heterotic Orbifolds

We study the problem of moduli stabilisation in explicit heterotic orbifold compactifications, whose spectra contain the MSSM plus some vector-like exotics that can be decoupled. Considering all the bulk moduli, we obtain the 4D low energy effective action for the compactification, which has contributions from various, computable, perturbative and non-perturbative effects. Hidden sector gaugino condensation and string worldsheet instantons result in a combination of racetrack, KKLT and cusp-form contributions to the superpotential, which lift all the bulk moduli directions. We point out the properties observed in our concrete models, which tend to be missed when only "generic" features of a model are assumed. We search for interesting vacua and find several de Sitter solutions, but -- so far -- they all turn out to be unstable.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Lifshitz solutions in supergravity and string theory

We derive Lifshitz configurations in string theory for general dynamical exponents z \geq 1. We begin by obtaining simple Li x Omega solutions to supergravities in diverse dimensions, with Omega a compact constant curvature manifold. Then we uplift the solutions to ten dimensions, providing configurations that correspond to warped compactifications in Type II string theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

The effect of extra dimensions on gravity wave bursts from cosmic string cusps

We explore the kinematical effect of having extra dimensions on the gravity wave emission from cosmic strings. Additional dimensions both round off cusps, and reduce the probability of their formation. We recompute the gravity wave burst, taking into account these two factors, and find a potentially significant damping on the gravity waves of the strings.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Effect of extra dimensions on gravitational waves from cosmic strings

We show how taking into account the kinematical effect of extra dimensions can have a significant impact on the gravity wave emission from cosmic strings. Additional dimensions both round off cusps, as well as reduce the probability of their formation. We recompute the cusp gravity wave burst with these factors and find a significant dimension dependent damping of the gravity waves.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Oddness from Rigidness

We revisit the problem of constructing type IIA orientifolds on T^6/(Z2 x Z2) which admit (non)-factorisable lattices. More concretely, we consider a (Z2 x Z2') orientifold with torsion, where D6-branes wrap rigid 3-cycles. We derive the model building rules and consistency conditions in the case where the compactification lattice is non-factorisable. We show that in this class of configurations, (semi) realistic models with an odd number of families can be easily constructed, in contrast to compactifications where the D6-branes wrap non-rigid cycles. We also show that an odd number of families can be obtained in the factorisable case, without the need of tilted tori. We illustrate the discussion by presenting three family Pati-Salam models with no chiral exotics in both factorisable and non-factorisable toroidal compactifications.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Spinflation

We study the cosmological implications of including angular motion in the DBI brane inflation scenario. The non-canonical kinetic terms of the Dirac-Born-Infeld action give an interesting alternative to slow roll inflation, and cycling branes can drive periods of accelerated expansion in the Universe. We present explicit numerical solutions demonstrating brane inflation in the Klebanov-Strassler throat. We find that demanding sufficient inflation takes place in the throat is in conflict with keeping the brane's total energy low enough so that local gravitational backreaction on the Calabi-Yau manifold can be safely ignored. We deduce that spinflation (brane inflation with angular momentum) can ease this tension by providing extra e-foldings at the start of inflation. Cosmological expansion rapidly damps the angular momentum causing an exit to a more conventional brane inflation scenario. Finally, we set up a general framework for cosmological perturbation theory in this scenario, where we have multi-field non-standard kinetic term inflation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Orientifold's Landscape: Non-Factorisable Six-Tori

We construct type IIA orientifolds on T6/(Z2 x Z2) which admit non factorisable lattices. We describe a method to deal with this kind of configurations and discuss how the compactification lattice affects the tadpole cancellation conditions. Moreover, we include D6-branes which are not parallel to O6-planes. These branes can give rise to chiral spectra in four dimensions, thus uncovering a new corner in the landscape of intersecting D-brane model constructions. We demonstrate the construction at an explicit example. In general we argue that obtaining an odd number of families is problematic.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Cycling in the Throat

We analyse the dynamics of a probe D3-(anti-)brane propagating in a warped string compactification, making use of the Dirac-Born-Infeld action approximation. We also examine the time dependent expansion of such moving branes from the ``mirage cosmology'' perspective, where cosmology is induced by the brane motion in the background spacetime. A range of physically interesting backgrounds are considered: AdS5, Klebanov-Tseytlin and Klebanov-Strassler. Our focus is on exploring what new phenomenology is obtained from giving the brane angular momentum in the extra dimensions. We find that in general, angular momentum creates a centrifugal barrier, causing bouncing cosmologies. More unexpected, and more interesting, is the existence of bound orbits, corresponding to cyclic universes.

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