Inflation from M-Theory with Fourth-order Corrections and Large Extra Dimensions

Abstract

We study inflationary solutions in the M-theory. Including the fourth-order curvature correction terms, we find three generalized de Sitter solutions, in which our 3-space expands exponentially. Taking one of the solutions, we propose an inflationary scenario of the early universe. This provides us a natural explanation for large extra dimensions in a brane world, and suggests some connection between the 60 e-folding expansion of inflation and TeV gravity based on the large extra dimensions.

Comments: 12 pages, 2 figures, v2: figures corrected, v3: refs. added, version to appear in PLB, ps file is available from http://www-het.phys.sci.osaka-u.ac.jp/ohta/r4_inf.ps.gz