On the supersymmetrization of inflation in f(R) gravity

Abstract

An N=1 Poincare supergravity action, suitable for describing the Starobinsky inflation, is proposed. It extends f(R) gravity to supergravity in its old-minimal version. The action is parametrized by a single holomorphic potential and a single non-holomorphic potential, and can be dualized into the standard matter-coupled supergravity action, with the "matter" given by two chiral superfields. The action extends the earlier proposals for embedding the Starobinsky inflation into supergravity, and can be further generalized to include quantum corrections to the inflation. Our approach assumes the gravitational origin of inflaton and quintessence in the context of supergravity, by using a single chiral scalar curvature superfield.