On the supersymmetrization of inflation in f(R) gravity

TL;DR

This paper develops a supergravity extension of f(R) gravity suitable for modeling Starobinsky inflation, using a minimal supergravity framework with a single chiral scalar curvature superfield, and discusses its potential for including quantum corrections.

Contribution

It introduces a new N=1 supergravity action extending f(R) gravity for inflation, parametrized by holomorphic and non-holomorphic potentials, and capable of dualization into standard supergravity with matter fields.

Findings

Provides a supergravity model for Starobinsky inflation compatible with quantum corrections.

Extends previous models by using a single chiral scalar curvature superfield.

Demonstrates dualization into matter-coupled supergravity with two chiral superfields.

Abstract

An N=1 Poincare supergravity action, suitable for describing the Starobinsky inflation, is proposed. It extends f(R) gravity to supergravity in its old-minimal version. The action is parametrized by a single holomorphic potential and a single non-holomorphic potential, and can be dualized into the standard matter-coupled supergravity action, with the "matter" given by two chiral superfields. The action extends the earlier proposals for embedding the Starobinsky inflation into supergravity, and can be further generalized to include quantum corrections to the inflation. Our approach assumes the gravitational origin of inflaton and quintessence in the context of supergravity, by using a single chiral scalar curvature superfield.