A new approach to the cosmological moduli problem

Keith R. Dienes, Jeff Kost, Brooks Thomas

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

A generic byproduct of many theories beyond the Standard Model is the appearance of light scalar fields known as moduli. These moduli should be copiously produced in the early universe but have dangerously long lifetimes, leading to their excessive domination of the late-time energy density - an issue known as the "cosmological moduli problem". In this talk, we discuss a number of new effects which have direct relevance for the cosmological moduli problem and which, depending on circumstances, can either unexpectedly amerliorate it or worsen it, often by many orders of magnitude. As described more fully in Ref. [1], these effects arise in theories containing multiple moduli which mix amongst themselves in the presence of a mass-generating phase transition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCETUP* 2015 - Workshop on Dark Matter, Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics and PPC 2015 - IXth International Conference on Interconnections between Particle Physics and Cosmology
EditorsRouzbeh Allahverdi, Jason Kumar, Louis Strigari, Bhaskar Dutta, Farinaldo Queiroz, Kaladi Babu, Rebecca Surman, Barbara Szczerbinska, Baha Balantekin, Teruki Kamon
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9780735414006
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 21 2016
Externally publishedYes
Event5th Workshop on Dark Matter, Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics, CETUP* 2015 and 9th International Conference on Interconnections between Particle Physics and Cosmology, PPC 2015 - Lead/Deadwood, United States
Duration: Jun 15 2015Jul 17 2015

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume1743
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Other

Other5th Workshop on Dark Matter, Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics, CETUP* 2015 and 9th International Conference on Interconnections between Particle Physics and Cosmology, PPC 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLead/Deadwood
Period6/15/157/17/15

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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