Inflation from Superstring/M Theory Compactification with Higher Order Corrections I

TL;DR

This paper investigates inflationary solutions in M and superstring theories with higher order corrections, deriving exact and asymptotic solutions that could explain early universe inflation.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of inflationary solutions in theories with Lovelock-type corrections, including Gauss-Bonnet and quartic terms, relevant to string and M-theory.

Findings

Identified exact and asymptotic inflationary solutions

Demonstrated solutions can produce sufficient e-foldings

Connected higher order corrections to early universe inflation

Abstract

We study time-dependent solutions in M and superstring theories with higher order corrections. We first present general field equations for theories of Lovelock type with stringy corrections in arbitrary dimensions. We then exhaust all exact and asymptotic solutions of exponential and power-law expansions in the theory with Gauss-Bonnet terms relevant to heterotic strings and in the theories with quartic corrections corresponding to the M-theory and type II superstrings. We discuss interesting inflationary solutions that can generate enough e-foldings in the early universe.