Studies in String Cosmology

In this book we study the problem of moduli§stabilisation in a cosmological context of string§theory. Motivated by the moduli stabilisation§problem, we introduce for the first time chameleon§fields, so named because their masses and values§depend sensitively on the local matter density. We§show that such fields can evade all local tests of§the equivalence principle and we make predictions for§near-future tests of gravity in space while driving§the current phase of cosmic accelerated expansion. We§then study string corrections to racetrack inflation,§a proposal for inflationary dynamics in the context§of flux compactifications. Finally, we study a§truncated low energy effective action that models the§neighbourhood of special points in moduli space, such§as conifold points, where extra massless degrees of§freedom arise. We study moduli dynamics and§stabilisation in this context in a cosmological§background and find surprising variety in field§dynamics including the appearance of chaos. The chaos§aids in our understanding of the behaviour of moduli§near these special points. In particular we find a§viable mechanism for trapping some of the moduli near§these points.