Starobinsky-Type B-L Higgs Inflation Leading Beyond MSSM

Abstract: Models of induced-gravity inflation are formulated within Supergravity employing as inflaton the Higgs field which leads to a spontaneous breaking of a U(1)_{B-L} symmetry at Mgut=2x10^16 GeV. We use a renormalizable superpotential, fixed by a U(1) R symmetry, and logarithmic or semi-logarithmic Kahler potentials with integer prefactors which exhibit a quadratic non-minimal coupling to gravity. We find inflationary solutions of Starobinsky type in accordance with the observations. The inflaton mass is predicted to be of the order of 10^13 GeV. The model can be nicely linked to MSSM offering an explanation of the magnitude of the mu parameter consistently with phenomenological data. Also it allows for baryogenesis via non-thermal leptogenesis, provided that the gravitino is heavier than about 10 TeV.