Fotis Farakos

On the Starobinsky Model of Inflation from Supergravity

We discuss how the higher-derivative Starobinsky model of inflation originates from N=1N=1 supergravity. It is known that, in the old-minimal supergravity description written by employing a chiral compensator in the superconformal framework, the Starobinsky model is equivalent to a no-scale model with F-term potential. We show that the Starobinsky model can also be originated within the so-called new-minimal supergravity, where a linear compensator superfield is employed. In this formulation, the Starobinsky model is equivalent to standard supergravity coupled to a massive vector multiplet whose lowest scalar component plays the role of the inflaton and the vacuum energy is provided by a D-term potential. We also point out that higher-order corrections to the supergravity Lagrangian represent a threat to the Starobinsky model as they can destroy the flatness of the inflaton potential in its scalar field equivalent description.

Emerging potentials in higher-derivative gauged chiral models coupled to \mathcal{N}=1 supergravity

A bstractWe present a new method to introduce scalar potentials to gauge-invariant chiral models coupled to supergravity. The theories under consideration contain consistent higher-derivative terms which do not give rise to instabilities and ghost states. The chiral auxiliaries are not propagating and can be integrated out. Their elimination gives rise to emerging potentials even when there is not a superpotential to start with. We present the case of a single chiral multiplet with and without a superpotential and, in the gauged theory, up to two chiral multiplets coupled to supergravity with no superpotential. A general feature of the emergent potential is that it is negative defined leading to anti-de Sitter vacua. In the gauge models, competing D-terms may lift the potential leading to stable and metastable de Sitter and Minkowski vacua as well with spontaneously broken supersymmetry.

On the origin of constrained superfields

A bstractIn this work we analyze constrained superfields in supersymmetry and supergravity. We propose a constraint that, in combination with the constrained goldstino multiplet, consistently removes any selected component from a generic superfield. We also describe its origin, providing the operators whose equations of motion lead to the decoupling of such components. We illustrate our proposal by means of various examples and show how known constraints can be reproduced by our method.

Constrained superfields in supergravity

A bstractWe analyze constrained superfields in supergravity. We investigate the consistency and solve all known constraints, presenting a new class that may have interesting applications in the construction of inflationary models. We provide the superspace Lagrangians for minimal supergravity models based on them and write the corresponding theories in component form using a simplifying gauge for the goldstino couplings.

A new class of four-dimensional N = 1 supergravity with non-minimal derivative couplings

A bstractIn the

Scanning of the supersymmetry breaking scale and the gravitino mass in supergravity

mathcal{N}{ = }1

Supersymmetry Breaking by Higher Dimension Operators

four-dimensional new-minimal supergravity framework, we supersymmetrise the coupling of the scalar kinetic term to the Einstein tensor. This coupling, although introduces a non-minimal derivative interaction of curvature to matter, it does not introduce harmful higher-derivatives. For this construction, we employ off-shell chiral and real linear multiplets. Physical scalars are accommodated in the chiral multiplet whereas curvature resides in a linear one.

On ghost-free supersymmetric galileons

A bstractWe consider the minimal three-form N

Minimal constrained supergravity

mathcal{N}