Abstract:
We describe how quartic (\(λϕ^4\)) inflation with non-minimal coupling to gravity is realized in realistic supersymmetric SO(10) models. In a well-motivated example the 16−\({\overline{16}}\) Higgs multiplets, which break SO(10) to SU(5) and yield masses for the right-handed neutrinos, provide the inflaton field ϕ. Thus, leptogenesis is a natural outcome in this class of SO(10) models. Moreover, the adjoint (45-plet) Higgs also acquires a GUT scale value during inflation so that the monopole problem is evaded. The scalar spectral index \(n_s\) is in good agreement with the observations and\(r\), the tensor to scalar ratio, is predicted for realistic values of GUT parameters to be of order 10\(^{-3}\)-10\(^{-2}\).
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/