Physics (Internal)

A simple, stable model of brane inflation

This event is part of the HET Seminar Series.

Abstract:
The search for a general framework for slow-roll inflation is an ongoing
one, with promising candidates in theories of extra dimensions. However
stabilizing the extra dimensions is sometimes problematic, and can lead to
a loss of the desirable properties of these models. Inspired by the fact
that point masses in 2+1 D do not gravitate, we explore a simple framework
for inflation in 2 compact, spherical, stabilized extra dimensions. We
find that with a simple identification, the effective potential between
two 3-branes in this background is generically flat enough for inflation.