Gauge non-singlet (GNS) inflation in SUSY GUTs

In this talk based on reference we explore the novel possibility that the inflaton responsible for cosmological inflation is a gauge non-singlet matter field in supersymmetric (SUSY) Grand Unified Theories (GUTs). We consider hybrid-like inflation models in SUSY (more specifically tribrid inflation models [2]), where we show that the scalar components of gauge non-singlet superfields, together with fields in conjugate representations, may form a D-flat direction suitable for inflation. We apply these ideas to SUSY models with an Abelian gauge group, a Pati-Salam gauge group and finally Grand Unified Theories based on SO(10). Here, the scalar components of the matter superfields in the 16s may combine with a single 1-bar 6-bar to form the inflaton. Thus in some sense this 'unified particle' can act as the 'mother of the universe', as it contains the inflaton responsible for inflation as well as all the matter present today.