Three-form multiplet and Inflation

TL;DR

This paper proposes that the stabilizer field in supergravity inflation models is naturally interpreted as a three-form multiplet, with couplings dictated by shift symmetry and gauge invariance, linking to string theory.

Contribution

It introduces a novel interpretation of the stabilizer as a three-form multiplet, providing a natural string theory perspective and unique coupling structure in supergravity inflation models.

Findings

The stabilizer field can be viewed as a three-form multiplet.

Couplings are uniquely determined by shift symmetry and gauge invariance.

Provides a string theory interpretation for the stabilizer field.

Abstract

Most successful models of inflation in supergravity have a shift symmetry for the inflaton and contain a stabilizer field coupled to the inflaton in a particular way. We argue that the natural interpretation of the stabilizer, from the viewpoint of the shift symmetry, is a three-form multiplet. Its coupling to the inflaton is uniquely determined by the shift symmetry and the invariance under three-form gauge transformations and has a natural string theory interpretation.