Supratik Pal

Low & high scale MSSM inflation, gravitational waves and constraints from Planck

In this paper we will analyze generic predictions of an inflection-point model of inflation with Hubble-induced corrections and study them in light of the Planck data. Typically inflection-point models of inflation can be embedded within Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) where inflation can occur below the Planck scale. The flexibility of the potential allows us to match the observed amplitude of the TT-power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background radiation with low and high multipoles, spectral tilt, and virtually mild running of the spectral tilt, which can put a bound on an upper limit on the tensor-to-scalar ratio, r ≤ 0.12. Since the inflaton within MSSM carries the Standard Model charges, therefore it is the minimal model of inflation beyond the Standard Model which can reheat the universe with the right thermal degrees of freedom without any dark-radiation.

Primordial non-Gaussian features from DBI Galileon inflation

We have studied primordial non-Gaussian features of a model of potential-driven single field DBI Galileon inflation. We have computed the bispectrum from the three-point correlation function considering all possible cross correlations between the scalar and tensor modes of the proposed setup. Further, we have computed the trispectrum from a four-point correlation function considering the contribution from contact interaction, and scalar and graviton exchange diagrams in the in–in picture. Finally we have obtained the non-Gaussian consistency conditions from the four-point correlator, which results in partial violation of the Suyama–Yamaguchi four-point consistency relation. This further leads to the conclusion that sufficient primordial non-Gaussianities can be obtained from DBI Galileon inflation.

DBI Galileon inflation in background SUGRA

Abstract We introduce a model of potential driven DBI Galileon inflation in background N = 1 , D = 4 SUGRA. Starting from D4– D 4 ¯ brane–antibrane in the bulk N = 2 , D = 5 SUGRA including quadratic Gauss–Bonnet corrections, we derive an effective N = 1 , D = 4 SUGRA by dimensional reduction, that results in a Coleman–Weinberg type Galileon potential. We employ this potential in modeling inflation and in subsequent study of primordial quantum fluctuations for scalar and tensor modes. Further, we estimate the major observable parameters in both de Sitter (DS) and beyond de Sitter (BDS) limits and confront them with recent observational data from WMAP7 by using the publicly available code CAMB.

Brane inflation in background supergravity

We propose a model of inflation in the framework of brane cosmology driven by background supergravity. Starting from bulk supergravity we construct the inflaton potential on the brane and employ it to investigate for the consequences to inflationary paradigm. To this end, we derive the expressions for the important parameters in brane inflation, which are somewhat different from their counterparts in standard cosmology, using the one loop radiative corrected potential. We further estimate the observable parameters and find them to fit well with recent observational data by confronting with WMAP7 using CAMB. We also analyze the typical energy scale of brane inflation with our model, which resonates well with present estimates from cosmology and standard model of particle physics.

Reheating and leptogenesis in a SUGRA inspired brane inflation

Abstract We have studied extensively phenomenological implications in a specific model of brane inflation driven by background supergravity (Choudhury and Pal, 2011) [1] , via thermal history of the universe and leptogenesis pertaining to the particle physics phenomenology of the early universe. Using the one loop corrected inflationary potential we have investigated for the analytical expression as well as the numerical estimation for brane reheating temperature for standard model particles. This results in some novel features of reheating from this type of inflation which have serious implications in the production of heavy Majorana neutrinos needed for leptogenesis through the reheating temperature. We have also derived the expressions for the gravitino abundance during reheating and radiation dominated era. We have further estimated different parameters at the epoch of phase transition and revealed their salient features. At the end we have explicitly given an estimate of the amount of CP violation through the effective CP phase which is related to baryon asymmetry as well as gravitino dark matter abundance.

Fourth level MSSM inflation from new flat directions

We propose a model of inflation driven by minimal extension of SUSY, commonly known as MSSM. Starting from gauge invariant flat directions in the n = 4 level comprising of QQQL,QuQd,QuLe and uude, we construct the inflaton potential and employ it to investigate for its consequences around the saddle point arising from the non-vanishing fourth derivative of the original potential. To this end, we derive the expressions for the important parameters in MSSM inflation using the loop corrected potential. We further estimate the observable parameters and find them to fit well with recent observational data from WMAP7 by using the code CAMB. We also explore the possibility of primordial black hole formation from our model. Finally, we analyze one loop RGE and compute different phenomenological parameters which could be precisely determined in LHC or future Linear Colliders.

de Sitter branes with a bulk scalar

We propose new brane world models arising from a scalar field in the bulk. In these examples, the induced on-brane line element is de Sitter (or anti de Sitter) and the bulk (five dimensional) Einstein equations can be exactly solved to obtain warped spacetimes. The solutions thus derived are single and two-brane models—one with thin branes while the other one of the thick variety. The field profiles and the potentials are obtained and analysed for each case. We note that for the thick brane scenario the field profile resembles a kink, whereas for one or more thin branes, it is finite and bounded in the domain of the extra dimension. We have also addressed the localisation of gravity and other matter fields on the brane for these braneworld models.

Brane inflation: A field theory approach in background supergravity

We propose a model of inflation in the framework of brane cosmology driven by background supergravity. Starting from bulk supergravity we construct the inflaton potential on the brane and employ it to investigate for the consequences to inflationary paradigm. To this end, we derive the expressions for the important parameters in brane inflation, which are somewhat different from their counterparts in standard cosmology, using the one loop radiative corrected potential. We further estimate the observable parameters and find them to fit well with recent observational data. We have studied extensively reheating phenomenology, which explains the thermal history of the universe and leptogenesis through the production of thermal gravitino pertaining to the particle physics phenomenology of the early universe.

Confronting quasi-exponential inflation with WMAP seven

We confront quasi-exponential models of inflation with WMAP seven years dataset using Hamilton Jacobi formalism. With a phenomenological Hubble parameter, representing quasi exponential inflation, we develop the formalism and subject the analysis to confrontation with WMAP seven using the publicly available code CAMB. The observable parameters are found to fair extremely well with WMAP seven. We also obtain a ratio of tensor to scalar amplitudes which may be detectable in PLANCK.

Gravitational lensing in braneworld gravity: formalism and applications

In this article, we develop a formalism which is different from the standard lensing scenario and is necessary for understanding lensing by gravitational fields which arise as solutions of the effective Einstein equations on the brane. We obtain general expressions for measurable quantities such as time delay, deflection angle, Einstein ring and magnification. Subsequently, we estimate the deviations (relative to the standard lensing scenario) in the abovementioned quantities by considering the line elements for clusters and spiral galaxies obtained by solving the effective Einstein equations on the brane. Our analysis reveals that gravitational lensing can be a useful tool for testing braneworld gravity as well as the existence of extra dimensions.