Related papers: Non-renormalizable terms and M theory during infla…
We construct a two-stage inflationary model which can accommodate early inflation at a scale $\Lambda_1$ as well as a second stage of inflation at $\Lambda_2$ with a single scalar field $\phi$. We use a symmetric potential, valid in a…
We consider a cosmological set-up, based on renormalizable superpotential terms, in which a superheavy scale F-term hybrid inflation is followed by a Peccei-Quinn phase transition, resolving the strong CP and mu problems of the minimal…
We consider the ghost-free higher order corrections to the Starobinsky model in the old minimal supergravity. In general, higher order corrections cannot be forbidden by symmetries, which likely violate the flatness of the scalaron…
Extensions of the Standard Model typically contain ``flaton fields" defined as fields with large vacuum expectation values and almost flat potentials where scalar self-coupling is small or vanishes at tree level. Such potentials have been…
We point out some of the outstanding challenges for embedding inflationary cosmology within string theory studying the process of reheating for models where the inflaton is a closed string mode parameterising the size of an internal cycle…
In this PhD thesis, we investigate generic features of inflation which are strictly related to fundamental aspects of UV-physics scenarios, such as string theory or supergravity. After a short introduction to standard and inflationary…
Generalized slow roll conditions and parameters are obtained for a general form of scalar-tensor theory (with no external sources), having arbitrary functions describing a nonminimal gravitational coupling F(\phi), a Kahler-like kinetic…
We show how we can implement chaotic inflation in the context of supergravity by conveniently selecting the functional form of a strong enough non-minimal coupling between the inflaton and the Ricci scalar curvature. The procedure can be…
We present a supergravity inflationary scenario in which the inflaton field takes values considerably larger than the Planck scale. It is based on a class of inflationary potentials which can be derived from ``singular'' Kaehler potentials…
We study quintessential inflation using a generalized exponential potential $V(\phi)\propto exp(-\lambda \phi^n/Mpl^n), n>1$, the model admits slow-roll inflation at early times and leads to close-to-scaling behaviour in the post…
Inflation is part of the Standard Model of the Universe supported by CMB and large scale structure LSS datasets. This review presents new developments of inflation in three main chapters. (I): The effective theory of inflation a la…
We consider a supersymmetric hybrid inflation model with two inflaton fields. The superpotential during inflation is dominated by W=(\kappa S+\kappa' S')M^2, where S, S' are inflatons carrying the same U(1)_R charge, \kappa, \kappa' are…
Most of the inflation models end up with non-vanishing vacuum expectation values of the inflaton fields \phi in the true vacuum, which induce, in general, nonvanishing auxiliary field G_\phi for the inflaton potential in supergravity. We…
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 K\"ahler potential, with the…
We investigate a (super-)renormalizable and ghost-free theory of gravity, showing that under a natural (exponential) ansatz of the form factor and a suitable truncation it can give rise to the Starobinsky inflationary theory in cosmological…
We study the possibility of extended inflation in the effective theory of gravity from strings compactified to four dimensions and find that it strongly depends on the mechanism of supersymmetry breaking. We consider a general class of…
We consider the generation of large-scale magnetic fields in slow-roll inflation. The inflaton field is described in a supergravity framework where the conformal invariance of the electromagnetic field is generically and naturally broken.…
The phenomenology of supersymmetric models of inflation, where the inflationary vacuum energy is dominated by D-terms of a U(1), is investigated. Particular attention is paid to the questions of how to arrange for sufficient e-folds of…
Inflation may have been driven by a component which violated the Null-Energy Condition, thereby leading to {\it super inflation}. We provide the formalism to study cosmological perturbations when such a component is described by a scalar…
A simple model for chaotic inflation in supergravity is proposed. The model is N=1 supersymmetric massive U(1) gauge theory via the Stuckelberg superfield and gives rise to D-term inflation with a quadratic term of inflaton in the…