Seminar Inflation and Baryogenesis in an M-theory framework

Contatto di riferimento: Barbara Simoni

Partecipanti: Dr. Martin Winkler: Stockholm University

Abstract: Compactifying M-theory on a G2 manifold leads to a low-energy theory with gauge matter, chiral fermions, and several other important features of our world. It is supersymmetric, with soft supersymmetry breaking via gaugino condensation that stabilizes moduli and generates a hierarchy between the Planck and the Fermi scale. We show that this theory features a successful cosmological history: inflation is realized through the overall volume modulus of the compactified manifold. A lighter modulus, which is displaced during the inflationary epoch, starts to dominate the energy content of the universe some time after reheating. Its decay at temperatures 10-100 MeV naturally generates the baryon asymmetry of the universe.