Instantons, Assisted Inflation and Heterotic M-theory

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the stability of assisted inflation in Heterotic M-Theory, showing that non-perturbative effects generally hinder inflation unless fine-tuned superpotentials are used.

Contribution

It provides a stability analysis of assisted inflation solutions and explores the impact of non-perturbative corrections, highlighting the need for fine-tuning.

Findings

Stable fixed point exists depending on Calabi-Yau data and five-branes

Non-perturbative corrections typically prevent assisted inflation

Fine tuning of superpotential is required for inflation to occur

Abstract

We first investigate the attractor solution associated with Assisted Inflation in Heterotic M-Theory to see if it is stable. By perturbing the solutions we find a solitary stable fixed point with the general path through phase space dependent upon the Calabi-Yau data and the number of five-branes. We then go on to examine the effect of including non-perturbative corrections to the inflaton potential arising from boundary-brane instantons as well as higher order brane interaction terms. The result is that Assisted Inflation is only possible if we allow fine tuning of the superpotential, and that generic non-perturbative superpotentials will prevent this kind of inflation from occurring.