Chaotic Brane Inflation

TL;DR

This paper proposes a string theory-based model of chaotic inflation where a D3 brane's motion around a cycle unwinds flux, with a potential protected by a shift symmetry, offering a novel approach to large-field inflation.

Contribution

It introduces a flux monodromy framework for chaotic inflation using D3 branes, connecting string compactifications with large-field inflation models.

Findings

Flux unwinding drives inflationary dynamics.

Potential is protected by discrete shift symmetry.

Model aligns with existing monodromy inflation theories.

Abstract

We illustrate a framework for constructing models of chaotic inflation where the inflaton is the position of a D3 brane along the universal cover of a string compactification. In our scenario, a brane rolls many times around a non-trivial one-cycle, thereby unwinding a Ramond-Ramond flux. These "flux monodromies" are similar in spirit to the monodromies of Silverstein, Westphal, and McAllister, and their four-dimensional description is that of Kaloper and Sorbo. Assuming moduli stabilization is rigid enough, the large-field inflationary potential is protected from radiative corrections by a discrete shift symmetry.