arXiv subjects

Mansoor Ur Rehman

Publications and source records attributed to Mansoor Ur Rehman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

New Inflation in Waterfall Region

We introduce a class of new inflation models within the waterfall region of a generalized hybrid inflation framework. The initial conditions are generated in the valley of hybrid preinflation. Both single-field and multi-field inflationary scenarios have been identified within this context. A supersymmetric realization of this scenario can successfully be achieved within the tribrid inflation framework. To assess the model's viability, we calculate the predictions of inflationary observables using the $δN$ formalism, demonstrating excellent agreement with the most recent Planck data. Furthermore, this model facilitates successful reheating and nonthermal leptogenesis, with the matter-field component of the inflaton identified as a sneutrino.

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arXiv2023

Probing Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background from $SU(5) \times U(1)_χ$ Strings in Light of NANOGrav 15-Year Data

A realistic model of $SU(5) \times U(1)_χ$, embedded in $SO(10)$ supersymmetric grand unified theory, is investigated for the emergence of a metastable cosmic string network. This network eventually decays via the Schwinger production of monopole-antimonopole pairs, subsequently generating a stochastic gravitational wave background that is compatible with the NANOGrav 15-year data. In order to avoid the monopole problem in the breaking of both $SO(10)$ and $SU(5)$, a non-minimal Higgs inflation scenario is incorporated. The radiative breaking of the $U(1)_χ$ symmetry at a slightly lower scale plays a pivotal role in aligning the string tension parameter with the observable range. The resultant gravitational wave spectrum not only accounts for the signal observed in the most recent pulsar timing array (PTA) experiments but is also accessible to both current and future ground-based and space-based experiments.

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arXiv2022

$μ$-hybrid Inflation, Gravitino Dark Matter and Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background from Cosmic Strings

We present a successful realization of supersymmetric $μ$-hybrid inflation model based on a gauged $U(1)_{B-L}$ extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, with the soft supersymmetry breaking terms are playing an important role. Successful non-thermal leptogenesis with gravitino dark matter yields a reheat temperature in the range $2 \times 10^{7} \lesssim T_R \lesssim 5 \times 10^{9}$ GeV. This corresponds to the predictions $2 \times 10^{-18} \lesssim r\lesssim 4 \times 10^{-13}$ for the tensor to scalar ratio, and $-2 \times 10^{-6} \lesssim dn_s/d\ln k \lesssim -5 \times 10^{-11}$ for the running of the scalar spectral index. The $B-L$ breaking scale is estimated as $ 6 \times 10^{14}\lesssim M/ \text{GeV}\lesssim 10^{16}$, calculated at the central value of the scalar spectral index, $n_s =0.9655$, reported by Planck 2018. Finally, in a grand unified theory setup the dimensionless string tension parameter associated with the metastable strings is in the range $ 10^{-9} \lesssim Gμ_\text{cs} \lesssim 10^{-6}$ corresponding to a stochastic gravitational wave background lying within the 2$σ$ bound of the recent NANOGrav 12.5-yr data.

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arXiv2021

Sneutrino Tribrid Inflation, Metastable Cosmic Strings and Gravitational Waves

We present a successful realization of sneutrino tribrid inflation model based on a gauged $U(1)_{B-L}$ extension of Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). A single interaction term involving the $B-L$ Higgs field and the right-handed neutrinos serves multiple purposes. These include the generation of heavy Majorana masses for the right-handed neutrinos to provide an explanation for the tiny neutrino masses via the seesaw mechanism, a realistic scenario for reheating and non-thermal leptogenesis with a reheat temperature as low as $10^6$ GeV, and a successful realization of inflation with right-handed sneutrino as the inflaton. The matter parity which helps avoid rapid proton decay survives as a $Z_{2}$ subgroup of a $U(1)$ $R$-symmetry. Depending on the choice of model parameters yields the following predicted range of the tensor to scalar ratio, $3 \times 10^{-11}\lesssim r\lesssim 7\times 10^{-4}$ ($ 6 \times 10^{-7} \lesssim r \lesssim 0.01 $), and the running of the scalar spectral index, $-0.00022 \lesssim dn_s/d\ln k \lesssim -0.0026$ ($-0.00014 \lesssim dn_s/d\ln k \lesssim 0.005$), along with the $B-L$ breaking scale, $ 3 \times 10^{14}\lesssim M/ \text{GeV}\lesssim 5 \times 10^{15}$ ($ 6 \times 10^{15}\lesssim M/ \text{GeV}\lesssim 2 \times 10^{16}$), calculated at the central value of the scalar spectral index, $n_s =0.966$, reported by Planck 2018. The possibility of realizing metastable cosmic strings in a grand unified theory setup is briefly discussed. The metastable cosmic string network admits string tension values in the range $10^{-8} \lesssim Gμ_s \lesssim 10^{-6}$, and predicts a stochastic gravitational wave background lying within the 2-$σ$ bounds of the recent NANOGrav 12.5-yr data.

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arXiv2021

Realistic Inflation in No-Scale $U(1)_R$ Symmetric Flipped $SU(5)$

We have realized non-minimal Higgs inflation and standard hybrid inflation in the supersymmetric flipped $SU(5)$ model with $U(1)_R$ symmetry using the no-scale form of the Kähler potential. In non-minimal Higgs inflation the waterfall Higgs field plays the role of inflaton, and in standard hybrid inflation the gauge singlet field $S$ is employed as an inflaton. The predictions of both models are in good agreement with the Planck 2018 data. For numerical calculations we have fixed the gauge symmetry breaking scale, $M$, around $2\times 10^{16}$ GeV. In both models the inflaton field values are constrained below $m_P$. The tensor to scalar ratio $r$ in non-minimal inflation is of the order of $10^{-3}$ and for standard hybrid inflation $r$ is tiny, of order $10^{-15} - 10^{-4}$. The scalar spectral index in both cases lie within the Planck 1-$σ$ bounds, and the running of the scalar spectral index lies in the range, $-dn_s/d\ln k \sim 6\times 10^{-4}$ for non-minimal model and $10^{-9} - 10^{-3}$ for the standard hybrid model. A realistic scenario of reheating and non-thermal leptogenesis is employed with reheat temperature $T_r \sim 10^9$ GeV for non-minimal model and $10^{6} - 10^{10}$~GeV for standard hybrid model. The $R$-symmetry plays a vital role in forbidding rapid proton decay, but at the same time it also suppresses terms responsible for generating right handed neutrino masses. A realistic scenario of right handed neutrino masses is obtained by considering effective $R$ symmetry breaking at the nonrenormalizable level with adequate suppression of rapid proton decay.

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arXiv2021

Shifted $μ$-hybrid inflation, gravitino dark matter, and observable gravity waves

We investigate supersymmetric hybrid inflation in a realistic model based on the gauge symmetry $SU(4)_c \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$. The minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) $μ$ term arises, following Dvali, Lazarides, and Shafi, from the coupling of the MSSM electroweak doublets to a gauge singlet superfield which plays an essential role in inflation. The primordial monopoles are inflated away by arranging that the $SU(4)_c \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$ symmetry is broken along the inflationary trajectory. The interplay between the (above) $μ$ coupling, the gravitino mass, and the reheating following inflation is discussed in detail. We explore regions of the parameter space that yield gravitino dark matter and observable gravity waves with the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r \sim 10^{-4}-10^{-3}$.

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arXiv2021

Observable Proton Decay in Flipped SU(5)

We explore proton decay in a class of realistic supersymmetric flipped $SU(5)$ models supplemented by a $U(1)_R$ symmetry which plays an essential role in implementing hybrid inflation. Two distinct neutrino mass models, based on inverse seesaw and type I seesaw, are identified, with the latter arising from the breaking of $U(1)_R$ by nonrenormalizable superpotential terms. Depending on the neutrino mass model an appropriate set of intermediate scale color triplets from the Higgs superfields play a key role in proton decay channels that include $p \rightarrow (e^{+},μ^+)\, π^0$, $p \rightarrow ( e^+,μ^{+})\, K^0 $, $p \rightarrow \overlineν\, π^{+}$, and $p \rightarrow \overlineν\, K^+ $. We identify regions of the parameter space that yield proton lifetime estimates which are testable at Hyper-Kamiokande and other next generation experiments. We discuss how gauge coupling unification in the presence of intermediate scale particles is realized, and a $Z_4$ symmetry is utilized to show how such intermediate scales can arise in flipped $SU(5)$. Finally, we compare our predictions for proton decay with previous work based on $SU(5)$ and flipped $SU(5)$.

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arXiv2020

New Inflation in Supersymmetric SU(5) and Flipped SU(5) GUT Models

We study the feasibility of realizing supersymmetric new inflation model, introduced by Senoguz and Shafi in [1], for $SU(5)$ and flipped $SU(5)$ models of grand unified theories (GUTs). This realization requires an additional $U(1)_R \times Z_{n}$ symmetry for its successful implementation. The standard model (SM) gauge singlet scalar components of $24_H$ and $10_H$ GUT Higgs superfields are respectively employed to realize successful inflation in $SU(5)$ and flipped $SU(5)$ models. The predictions of the various inflationary observables lie within the recent Planck bounds on the scalar spectral index, $n_s$, for $n \geq 5$ in $SU(5)$ model and for $n \geq 6$ in flipped $SU(5)$ model. In particular, the tensor to scalar ratio $r$ and the running of spectral index $d n_s/ d\ln k$ are negligibly small and lie in the range, $10^{-12} \lesssim r \lesssim 10^{-8}$ and $10^{-9} \lesssim dn_s/d\ln k \lesssim 10^{-3}$, for realistic values of $n$. In numerical estimation of the various predictions, we fix the gauge symmetry breaking scale, $M$, around $2 \times 10^{16}$ GeV. The issue of gauge coupling unification in $R$-symmetric $SU(5)$ is evaded by adding vectorlike families with mass splitting within their multiplets. The dilution of monopoles beyond the observable limit is naturally achieved in the breaking of $SU(5)$ gauge symmetry during inflation. A realistic scenario of reheating with non-thermal leptogenesis is employed for both models. The predicted range of reheat temperature within Planck bounds, $3 \times 10^{7}\text{ GeV }\lesssim T_r \lesssim 2 \times 10^{9}$ GeV, is safe from the gravitino problem for the gravitino mass, $m_{3/2} \gtrsim 10$ TeV. Finally, the $U(1)_R \times Z_{n}$ symmetry is also observed to play a crucial role in suppressing the various fast proton decay operators.

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arXiv2020

Proton Decay in Supersymmetric $SU(4)_c \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$

We discuss proton decay in a recently proposed model of supersymmetric hybrid inflation based on the gauge symmetry $SU(4)_c \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$. A $U(1)\, R$ symmetry plays an essential role in realizing inflation as well as in eliminating some undesirable baryon number violating operators. Proton decay is primarily mediated by a variety of color triplets from chiral superfields, and it lies in the observable range for a range of intermediate scale masses for the triplets. The decay modes include $p \rightarrow e^{+}(μ^+) + π^0$, $p \rightarrow \barν + π^{+}$, $p \rightarrow K^0 + e^+(μ^{+})$, and $p \rightarrow K^+ + \barν$, with a lifetime estimate of order $10^{34}-10^{36}$ yrs and accessible at Hyper-Kamiokande and future upgrades. The unification at the Grand Unified Theory (GUT) scale $M_{\rm GUT}$ ($\sim 10^{16}$ GeV) of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) gauge couplings is briefly discussed.

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arXiv2020

Pseudosmooth Tribrid Inflation in $SU(5)$

A realistic tribrid model of sneutrino inflation is constructed in an $R$-symmetric $SU(5)$ grand unified theory (GUT). To avoid the monopole problem, a pseudosmooth inflationary trajectory is generated with the help of an additional $Z_5$ symmetry which is broken during and after inflation. The predictions of inflationary parameters are made at the central value of the scalar spectral index, $n_s =0.968$. The largest possible value of the tensor to scalar ratio, $r\lesssim 0.0027$, is obtained with sub-Planckian field values ($\lesssim m_P$). A successful realization of reheating and leptogenesis is achieved by avoiding the gravitino problem with a reheat temperature as low as $10^6$ GeV. The predicted range of the gauge symmetry breaking scale, $ 5 \times 10^{16} \lesssim M/\text{GeV} \lesssim 5 \times 10^{17}$, turns out to be somewhat larger than the typical GUT scale. With additional vector-like families, a successful gauge coupling unification is achieved by avoiding the no-go theorem related to $R$-symmetric $SU(5)$ GUT.

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arXiv2019

Nonminimal Inflation in Supersymmetric GUTs with $U(1)_R \times Z_n$ Symmetry

A supersymmetric hybrid inflation framework is employed to realize a class of non-minimal inflation models with $U(1)_R \times Z_n$ global symmetry. This framework naturally incorporates models based on grand unified theories by avoiding the most commonly faced monopole problem. The predictions of inflationary observables, the scalar spectral index $n_s = 0.960-0.966$ and the tensor to scalar ratio $r=0.0031-0.0045$, are in perfect agreement with the Planck 2018 data. For sub-Planckian values of the field the $Z_n$ symmetry is only allowed for $n\leq 4$.

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arXiv2018

Gravity Waves and Proton Decay in Flipped SU(5) Hybrid Inflation Model

We revisit supersymmetric hybrid inflation in the context of flipped $SU(5)$ model. With minimal superpotential and minimal Kähler potential, and soft SUSY masses of order $(1 - 100)$ TeV, compatibility with the Planck data yields a symmetry breaking scale $M$ of flipped $SU(5)$ close to $(2 - 4) \times 10^{15}$ GeV. This disagrees with the lower limit $M \gtrsim 7 \times 10^{15}$ GeV set from proton decay searches by the Super-Kamiokande collaboration. We show how $M$ close to the unification scale $2\times 10^{16}$ GeV can be reconciled with SUSY hybrid inflation by employing a non-minimal Kähler potential. Proton decays into $e^+ π^0$ with an estimated lifetime of order $10^{36}$ years. The tensor to scalar ratio $r$ in this case can approach observable values $\sim 10^{-4} - 10^{-3}$.

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arXiv2017

Simplified Smooth Hybrid Inflation in Supersymmetric SU(5)

A scheme of simplified smooth hybrid inflation is realized in the framework of supersymmetric $SU(5)$. The smooth model of hybrid inflation provides a natural solution to the monopole problem that appears in the breaking of $SU(5)$ gauge symmetry. The supergravity corrections with nonminimal Kähler potential are shown to play important role in realizing inflation with a red-tilted scalar spectral index $n_s <1$, within Planck's latest bounds. As compared to shifted model of hybrid inflation, relatively large values of the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r \lesssim 0.01$ are achieved here, with nonminimal couplings $-0.05 \lesssim κ_S \lesssim 0.01$ and $-1 \lesssim κ_{SS} \lesssim 1$ and the gauge symmetry-breaking scale $M \simeq (2.0 - 16.7) \times 10^{16}$ GeV.

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arXiv2017

$μ$-Hybrid Inflation with Low Reheat Temperature and Observable Gravity Waves

In $μ$-hybrid inflation a nonzero inflaton vacuum expectation value induced by supersymmetry breaking is proportional to the gravitino mass $m_{3/2}$, which can be exploited to resolve the minimal supersymmetric standard model $μ$ problem. We show how this scenario can be successfully implemented with $m_{3/2} \sim 1-100$ TeV and reheat temperature as low as $10^6$ GeV by employing a minimal renormalizable superpotential coupled with a well defined non-minimal Kähler potential. The tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$, a canonical measure of primordial gravity waves in most cases is less than or of the order of $10^{-6}-10^{-3}$.

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arXiv2015

Quantum Smearing in Hybrid Inflation with Chaotic Potentials

We study the impact of one-loop radiative corrections in a non-supersymmetric model of hybrid inflation with chaotic (polynomial-like) potential, $V_0 + λ_p ϕ^p$. These corrections can arise from the possible couplings of inflaton with other fields which may play active role in the reheating process. The tree-level predictions of these models are shown to lie outside of the Planck's latest bounds on the scalar spectral index $n_s$ and the tensor to scalar ratio $r$. However, the radiatively corrected version of these models, $ V_0 + λ_p ϕ^p + A ϕ^4 \ln ϕ$, is fully consistent with the Planck's data. More specifically, fermionic radiative correction ($A<0$) reduces the tensor to scalar ratio significantly and a red-tilted spectral index $n_s<1$, consistent with Planck's data, is obtained even for sub-Planckian field-values.

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arXiv2013

$R$-Symmetry Breaking in Supersymmetric Hybrid Inflation

We consider a supersymmetric hybrid inflation scenario in which the U(1) $R$-symmetry is explicitly broken by Planck scale suppressed operators in the superpotential. We provide an example with minimal Kähler potential, with the $R$-symmetry breaking term relevant during inflation being $αS^4$, where $S$ denotes the well-known gauge singlet inflaton superfield. The inflationary potential takes into account the radiative and supergravity corrections, as well as the soft supersymmetry breaking terms. For successful inflation, with the scalar spectral index in the currently preferred range, $n_s \approx 0.97 \pm 0.010$, $| α|$ $\lesssim 10^{-7}$. The tensor to scalar ratio $r \lesssim 10^{-4}$, while $| \text{d} n_s / \text{d} \ln k | \sim \mathcal{O}(10^{-3})-\mathcal{O}(10^{-4})$

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arXiv2012

Pseudosmooth Tribrid Inflation

We explore a new class of supersymmetric models of inflation where the inflaton is realised as a combination of a Higgs field and (gauge non-singlet) matter fields, using a "tribrid" structure of the superpotential. Inflation is associated with a phase transition around GUT scale energies. The inflationary trajectory already preselects the later vacuum after inflation, which has the advantage of automatically avoiding the production of dangerous topological defects at the end of inflation. While at first sight the models look similar to smooth inflation, they feature a waterfall and are therefore only pseudosmooth. The new class of models offers novel possibilities for realising inflation in close contact with particle physics, for instance with supersymmetric GUTs or with supersymmetric flavour models based on family symmetries.

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arXiv2012

Simplified Smooth Inflation with Observable Gravity Waves

We consider a simplified version of supersymmetric smooth hybrid inflation which contains a single ultraviolet cutoff m_P = 2.4 x 10^{18} GeV, instead of the two cutoffs m_P and M_* ~ few x 10^{17} GeV that are normally employed. With global supersymmetry the scalar spectral index n_s ~ 0.97, which is in very good agreement with the WMAP observations. With a non-minimal Kahler potential, the supergravity version of the model is compatible with the current central values of n_s and also yields potentially observable gravity waves (tensor to scalar ratio r <~ 0.02).

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