On inflation in the heterotic superstring model

The possibility is considered of achieving inflation in the field-theory limit of the E₈ X E₈ superstring model, which is an N = 1 supergravity theory possessing a "no-scale" SU(n, 1)/SU(n) × U(1) structure. It is shown that neither type I inflation (due to higher-derivative terms O(R²)), nor inflation due to a SUSY-breaking gaugino-condensation potential, is possible, essentially because of the absence of free dimensionless parameters. Kaluza-Klein type inflation is ruled out because the internal space is Ricci flat. The occurence of type II inflation (due to some gauge singlet "inflation" field φ) depends upon the form of the superpotential F and of the Kähler potential G, but this also seems not to be possible, unless the >SU(n, 1) symmetry can be broken in a particular way. Hence, some new type of compactification scheme may be called for, or a different type of inflation.