Inflationary Phase Transition Research Articles

Thermal production of superheavy magnetic monopoles in the new inflationary-universe scenario.

We consider the thermal production of superheavy (e.g. approx.10/sup 16/ GeV) monopoles in an inflationary-universe scenario in which the grand-unified-theory (GUT) and inflationary phase transitions are distinct. By investigating the requirements placed on the GUT sector in such a scenario, we find that a large class of GUT models are consistent with the scenario and admit reheating to temperatures high enough to produce ''interesting'' (i.e., observable but not overabundant) numbers of thermal monopoles. We conclude that these scenarios could provide an explanation for the existence of superheavy magnetic monopoles in an inflationary universe.

Supersymmetry and inflation: A new approach

Abstract In this paper we present a systematic study of inflationary phase transitions in locally supersymmetric theories. We find that a successful inflationary universe scenario can be achieved but only when the transition is to a new (not O'Raifeartaigh-or or Fayet-Iliopoulos-) type of supersymmetry breaking state. The state is metastable but very long lived.