The Inflaton as an MSSM Higgs boson in String Theory
Irene Valenzuela (UAM)

We propose to identify the inflaton with a heavy MSSM Higgs boson, such that BICEP2 results (if confirmed) could be an indication of SUSY breaking at such a large scale. We have built some toy models in which the Higgs boson/inflaton is the position modulus of a system of D7 branes at singularities in Type IIB orientifold compactifications. A scalar potential is generated for the inflaton from the DBI+CS action once closed string fluxes are introduced, and the transplanckian field range is achieved in a way similar to F-term axion monodromy inflation.