arXiv subjects

Marieke Postma

Publications and source records attributed to Marieke Postma.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Dark-matter bound states from Feynman diagrams

If dark matter couples directly to a light force mediator, then it may form bound states in the early universe and in the non-relativistic environment of haloes today. In this work, we establish a field-theoretic framework for the computation of bound-state formation cross-sections, de-excitation and decay rates, in theories with long-range interactions. Using this formalism, we carry out specific computations for scalar particles interacting either via a light scalar or vector mediator. At low relative velocities of the interacting particles, the formation of bound states is enhanced by the Sommerfeld effect. For particle-antiparticle pairs, we show that bound-state formation can be faster than annihilation into radiation in the regime where the Sommerfeld effect is important. The field-theoretic formalism outlined here can be generalised to compute bound-state formation cross-sections in a variety of theories, including theories featuring non-Abelian (albeit non-confining) interactions, such as the electroweak interactions.

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arXiv2014

Top-Goldstone coupling spoils renormalization of Higgs inflation

We examine renormalization of Higgs inflation in the context of the full Standard Model. In the fermionic sector of the theory there is a parametrically large top-Goldstone coupling which prevents renormalization of the theory. Using a simplified model with a global U(1) symmetry, a Higgs and a fermion, we show that the one-loop contribution to 4-Goldstone scattering cannot be absorbed in any tree level terms, and hence forbids a consistent renormalization of the theory. Our results apply for large non-minimal Higgs-gravity coupling in the large field regime, and indicate that Higgs inflation is not a predictive theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Equivalence of the Einstein and Jordan frames

No experiment can measure an absolute scale: every dimensionfull quantity has to be compared to some fixed unit scale in order to be measured, and thus only dimensionless quantities are really physical. The Einstein and Jordan frame are related by a conformal transformation of the metric, which amounts to rescaling all length scales. Since the absolute scale cannot be measured, both frames describe the same physics, and are equivalent. In this article we make this explicit by rewriting the action in terms of dimensionless variables, which are invariant under a conformal transformation. For definiteness, we concentrate on the action of Higgs inflation, but the results can easily be generalized. In addition, we show that the action for f(R)-gravity, which includes Starobinsky inflation, can be written in a frame-independent form.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

Quantum corrections in Higgs inflation: the real scalar case

We present a critical discussion of quantum corrections, renormalisation, and the computation of the beta functions and the effective potential in Higgs inflation. In contrast with claims in the literature, we find no evidence for a disagreement between the Jordan and Einstein frames, even at the quantum level. For clarity of discussion we concentrate on the case of a real scalar Higgs. We first review the classical calculation and then discuss the back reaction of gravity. We compute the beta functions for the Higgs quartic coupling and non-minimal coupling constant. Here, the mid-field regime is non-renormalisable, but we are able to give an upper bound on the 1-loop corrections to the effective potential. We show that, in computing the effective potential, the Jordan and Einstein frames are compatible if all mass scales are transformed between the two frames. As such, it is consistent to take a constant cutoff in either the Jordan or Einstein frame, and both prescriptions yield the same result for the effective potential. Our results are extended to the case of a complex scalar Higgs.

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arXiv2013

Sgoldstino inflation

We discuss the possibility that inflation is driven by the sgoldstino, the superpartner of the goldstino. Unlike in generic supergravity scenarios, the sgoldstino decouples from all other fields in the theory, which allows for a simple and robust inflationary model. We argue that the two-field model given by this single complex scalar correctly captures the full multifield inflationary phenomenology. On the other hand, the assumption of stability, along the entire inflationary trajectory, of the supersymmetry-preserving sector that is integrated out leads to supplementary constraints on the parent supergravity. We investigate small field, large field and hybrid sgoldstino inflation scenarios and provide some working examples. They are subject to the usual fine-tuning issues that are common to all supergravity models of inflation. We comment on some other recently proposed sgoldstino inflation models.

hep-th↗

arXiv2012

Effective action for the Abelian Higgs model in FLRW

We compute the divergent contributions to the one-loop action of the U(1) Abelian Higgs model. The calculation allows for a Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker space-time and a time-dependent expectation value for the scalar field. Treating the time-dependent masses as two-point interactions, we use the in-in formalism to compute the first, second and third order graphs that contribute quadratic and logarithmic divergences to the effective scalar action. Working in R-xi gauge we show that the result is gauge invariant upon using the equations of motion.

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arXiv2012

Goldstone bosons and a dynamical Higgs field

Higgs inflation uses the gauge variant Higgs field as the inflaton. During inflation the Higgs field is displaced from its minimum, which results in associated Goldstone bosons that are apparently massive. Working in a minimally coupled U(1) toy model, we use the closed-time-path formalism to show that these Goldstone bosons do contribute to the one-loop effective action. Therefore the computation in unitary gauge gives incorrect results. Our expression for the effective action is gauge invariant upon using the background equations of motion.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

A no-go for no-go theorems prohibiting cosmic acceleration in extra dimensional models

A four-dimensional effective theory that arises as the low-energy limit of some extra-dimensional model is constrained by the higher dimensional Einstein equations. Steinhardt & Wesley use this to show that accelerated expansion in our four large dimensions can only be transient in a large class of Kaluza-Klein models that satisfy the (higher dimensional) null energy condition [1]. We point out that these no-go theorems are based on a rather ad-hoc assumption on the metric, without which no strong statements can be made.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

Avoiding the dangers of a soft-wall singularity

We critically analyse the nature of the infrared singularity in Randall-Sundrum soft-wall models, where the extra dimension is dynamically compactified by the formation of a curvature singularity. Due to the Israel junction conditions, this singularity can only be shielded by a time-independent black-hole horizon if there is ghost matter on the UV brane. For this construction the spectrum of 4D states is shown to be similar to the original soft-wall case. We point out, however, that no such shielding is needed, as the singularity satisfies unitary boundary conditions.

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arXiv2010

M-flation and its spectators

M-flation is an implementation of assisted inflation, in which the inflaton fields are three N_c x N_c non-abelian hermitean matrices. The model can be consistently truncated to an effectively single field inflation model, with all ``spectator'' fields fixed at the origin. We show that starting with random initial conditions for all fields the truncated sector is not a late-time attractor, but instead the system evolves towards quadratic assisted inflation with all fields mass degenerate. Demanding the energy density during inflation to be below the effective quantum gravity scale, we find that the number of fields, and thus the assisted effect, is bounded N_c < 10^2.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Hybrid inflation with moduli stabilization and low scale supersymmetry breaking

We study the supergravity hybrid inflation model of Ref.[1] in the presence of a modulus field. The eta-problem is solved by a shift symmetry for the inflaton, which protects the inflaton mass even in the presence of the modulus field. Inflation is (nearly) unaffected by moduli stabilization, provided the scale of supersymmetry breaking in the post-inflation vacuum is small. Therefore the model has the nice phenomenology that it combines low scale supersymmetry breaking with high scale (grand unification scale) inflation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Dynamics of Moduli and Gaugino Condensates in an Expanding Universe

We study dynamical moduli stabilization driven by gaugino condensation in supergravity. In the presence of background radiation, there exists a region of initial conditions leading to successful stabilization. We point out that most of the allowed region corresponds to initial Hubble rate H close to the scale of condensation Λ, which is the natural cutoff of the effective theory. We first show that including the condensate dynamics sets a strong bound on the initial conditions. We then find that (complete) decoupling of the condensate happens at H about two orders of magnitude below Λ. This bound implies that in the usual scenario with the condensate integrated out, only the vicinity of the minimum leads to stabilization. Finally, we discuss the effects of thermal corrections.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

On Inflation in the Presence of a Gaugino Condensate

We study the effect of inflation on gaugino condensation in supergravity. Unless the Hubble scale H is significantly below the gaugino condensation scale, the gaugino condensate is a dynamical variable which cannot be integrated out. For a sufficiently high H, the gaugino condensate evolves to zero which in turn leads to dilaton/moduli destabilization. In practice, this often occurs at the Hubble rate about an order of magnitude below the gaugino condensation scale. This effect is independent of the specifics of moduli stabilization and thus places model independent constraints on inflationary scenarios. It also applies more generally to any periods of fast expansion in the early Universe.

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arXiv2008

Massive hidden photons as lukewarm dark matter

We study the possibility that a keV-MeV mass hidden photon (HP), i.e. a hidden sector U(1) gauge boson, accounts for the observed amount of dark matter. We focus on the case where the HP interacts with the standard model sector only through kinetic mixing with the photon. The relic abundance is computed including all relevant plasma effects into the photon's self-energy, which leads to a resonant yield almost independent of the HP mass. The HP can decay into three photons. Moreover, if light enough it can be copiously produced in stars. Including bounds from cosmic photon backgrounds and stellar evolution, we find that the hidden photon can only give a subdominant contribution to the dark matter. This negative conclusion may be avoided if another production mechanism besides kinetic mixing is operative.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Racetrack Inflation and Cosmic Strings

We consider the coupling of racetrack inflation to matter fields as realised in the D3/D7 brane system. In particular, we investigate the possibility of cosmic string formation in this system. We find that string formation before or at the onset of racetrack inflation is possible, but they are then inflated away. Furthermore, string formation at the end of inflation is prevented by the presence of the moduli sector. As a consequence, no strings survive racetrack inflation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

SUGRA chaotic inflation and moduli stabilisation

Chaotic inflation predicts a large gravitational wave signal which can be tested by the upcoming Planck satellite. We discuss a SUGRA implementation of chaotic inflation in the presence of moduli fields, and find that inflation does not work with a generic KKLT moduli stabilisation potential. A viable model can be constructed with a fine-tuned moduli sector, but only for a very specific choice of Kahler potential. Our analysis also shows that inflation models satisfying \partial_{i} W_{\rm inf}=0 for all inflation sector fields ϕ_i can be combined successfully with a fine-tuned moduli sector.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

D-term Uplifted Racetrack Inflation

It is shown that racetrack inflation can be implemented in a moduli stabilisation scenario with a supersymmetric uplifting D-term. The resulting model is completely described by an effective supergravity theory, in contrast to the original racetrack models. We study the inflationary dynamics and show that the gaugino condensates vary during inflation. The resulting spectral index is n_s = 0.95 as in the original racetrack inflation model. Hence extra fields do not appear to alter the predictions of the model. An equivalent, simplified model with just a single field is presented.

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arXiv2007

Warping and F-term uplifting

We analyse the effective supergravity model of a warped compactification with matter on D3 and D7-branes. We find that the main effect of the warp factor is to modify the F-terms while leaving the D-terms invariant. Hence warped models with moduli stabilisation and a small positive cosmological constant resulting from a large warping can only be achieved with an almost vanishing D-term and a F-term uplifting. By studying string-motivated examples with gaugino condensation on magnetised D7-branes, we find that even with a vanishing D-term, it is difficult to achieve a Minkowski minimum for reasonable parameter choices. When coupled to an ISS sector the AdS vacua is uplifted, resulting in a small gravitino mass for a warp factor of order 10^-5.

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