Axion Inflation in F-theory

Abstract

We study the dynamics of axion-like fields in F-theory and suggest that they can serve as inflatons in models of natural inflation. The axions arise from harmonic three-forms on the F-theory compactification space and parameterize a complex torus that varies over the geometric moduli space. In particular, this implies that the axion decay constants depend on the complex structure moduli that can be fixed by background fluxes. This might allow tuning them to be super-Planckian in a controlled way and allow for interesting single field inflationary models. We argue that this requires a localization of the three-forms near regions of strong string coupling, analogously to the reasoning that GUT physics requires the use of F-theory. These models can admit a tensor to scalar ratio r>0.1.

9 pages, 1 figure; v2: added clarifying remarks and references

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• Aligned Natural Inflation: Monodromies of two Axions
• Tuning and Backreaction in F-term Axion Monodromy Inflation
• Yukawas and discrete symmetries in F-theory compactifications without section
• Large-Field Inflation with Multiple Axions and the Weak Gravity Conjecture
• Axion Monodromy and the Weak Gravity Conjecture
• Challenges for Large-Field Inflation and Moduli Stabilization
• The Challenge of Realizing F-term Axion Monodromy Inflation in String Theory
• D7-Brane Moduli Space in Axion Monodromy and Fluxbrane Inflation
• Higgs-otic Inflation and String Theory
• The Inflaton as a MSSM Higgs and Open String Modulus Monodromy Inflation
• Hierarchical Axion Inflation
• Can Gravitational Instantons Really Constrain Axion Inflation?
• Three-Family Particle Physics Models from Global F-theory Compactifications
• The Flux-Scaling Scenario: De Sitter Uplift and Axion Inflation
• Towards Natural Inflation in String Theory
• Special Points of Inflation in Flux Compactifications
• Axion monodromy inflation with multi-natural modulations
• Trajectories with suppressed tensor-to-scalar ratio in Aligned Natural Inflation
• Three-form multiplet and Inflation
• Systematics of Axion Inflation in Calabi-Yau Hypersurfaces
• Large Field Inflation and Gravitational Entropy
• Dimensional oxidation and modular completion of non-geometric type IIB action
• Natural Inflation and Low Energy Supersymmetry
• Issues in Complex Structure Moduli Inflation
• Fractional chaotic inflation in the lights of PLANCK and BICEP2
• Three-form periods on Calabi-Yau fourfolds: Toric hypersurfaces and F-theory applications
• One-loop Pfaffians and large-field inflation in string theory
• Moduli backreaction and supersymmetry breaking in string-inspired inflation models
• On Mirror Symmetry for Calabi-Yau Fourfolds with Three-Form Cohomology
• Hitchhiker's Guide to the Swampland: The Cosmologist's Handbook to the string-theoretical Swampland Programme
• Non-flat elliptic four-folds, three-form cohomology and strongly coupled theories in four dimensions