Non-Topological Inflation from Embedded Defects

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel inflation mechanism in string theory using embedded defects on D-branes, which naturally end inflation through defect decay, demonstrated via brane-antibrane annihilation.

Contribution

It presents a new inflation model based on embedded defects that naturally exit inflation, differing from traditional topological inflation models.

Findings

Embedded defects can induce inflation on D-branes.

Decay of embedded defects provides a natural exit from inflation.

The mechanism applies broadly to D-brane inflation scenarios.

Abstract

We discuss a new mechanism of obtaining a period of cosmological inflation in the context of string theory. This mechanism is based on embedded defects which form dynamically on higher dimensional D-branes. Such defects generate topological inflation, but unlike topological inflation from stable defects, here there is a natural graceful exit from inflation: the decay of the embedded defect. We demonstrate the idea in the context of a brane-antibrane annihilation process. The graceful exit mechanism suggested here applies generically to all realizations of inflation on D-branes.