Inflation in the Heterotic Superstring Model

摘要

We consider the possibility of achieving inflation in the field-theory limit of the E sub 8 xE sub 8 superstring model. We show that neither type I inflation nor inflation due to a SUSY-breaking gaugino-condensation potential, is possible, essentially because of the absence of free dimensionless parameters. Kaluza-Klein type inflation is ruled out because the internal space is Ricci flat. The occurrence of type II inflation (due to some gauge singlet 'inflaton' field phi) depends upon the form of the superpotential F and of the Kaehler potential G, but this also seems not to be possible, unless the SU(n,1) symmetry can be broken in a particular way. Hence, some new type of compactification scheme may be called for, or a different type of inflation. 36 refs. (Atomindex citation 17:063329)