Moduli or Not

TL;DR

This paper explores how the presence or absence of light moduli, suggested by string theory, influences supersymmetry realization, dark matter production, and inflation, highlighting different phenomenological scenarios.

Contribution

It analyzes the implications of light versus fixed moduli on supersymmetry, dark matter, and inflation, providing a framework for understanding their roles in particle physics and cosmology.

Findings

Absence of light moduli allows conventional dark matter and anomaly-mediated spectra.

Presence of light moduli leads to higher supersymmetry scales and atypical dark matter.

Light moduli impact the viability of the axion solution and slow roll inflation.

Abstract

Supersymmetry and string theory suggest the existence of light moduli. Their presence, or absence, controls the realization of supersymmetry at low energies. If there are no such fields, or if all such fields are fixed in a supersymmetric fashion, the conventional thermal production of LSP dark matter is possible, as is an anomaly-mediated ("mini-split") spectrum. On the other hand, the axion solution to the strong CP problem is not operative, and slow roll inflation appears difficult to implement. If there are light moduli, a mini-split spectrum is less generic, WIMP dark matter appears atypical, and the supersymmetry scale is likely tens of TeV or higher.