Brane-Antibrane Backreaction in Axion Monodromy Inflation

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the backreaction effects of brane-antibrane pairs in axion monodromy inflation models, revealing that their logarithmic interaction potential can destabilize the inflationary setup.

Contribution

It demonstrates that logarithmic backreaction from D5 and anti-D5 branes wrapping distant 2-cycles is generic and can destabilize axion monodromy inflation models.

Findings

Logarithmic interaction potential between branes does not decay at large distances.

Backreaction destabilizes models with brane-antibrane pairs in separate warped throats.

Destabilization occurs towards uncontrolled regions of the model.

Abstract

We calculate the interaction potential between D5 and anti-D5 branes wrapping distant but homologous 2-cycles. The interaction potential is logarithmic in the separation radius and does not decouple at infinity. We show that logarithmic backreaction is generic for 5-branes wrapping distant but homologous 2-cycles, and we argue that this destabilises models of axion monodromy inflation involving NS5 brane-antibrane pairs in separate warped throats towards an uncontrolled region.