Moduli/inflaton mixing with supersymmetry-breaking field

Abstract

A heavy scalar field such as moduli or an inflaton generally mixes with a field responsible for the supersymmetry breaking. We study the scalar decay into the standard model particles and their superpartners, gravitinos, and the supersymmetry-breaking sector, particularly paying attention to decay modes that proceed via the mixing between the scalar and the supersymmetry-breaking field. The impacts of the new decay processes on cosmological scenarios are also discussed; the modulus field generically produces too many gravitinos, and most of the inflation models tend to result in too high reheating temperature and/or gravitino overproduction. © 2006 The American Physical Society.