Superstring–inspired Supergravity as the Universal Source of Inflation and Quintessence

We prove (in superspace) the equivalence between the higher-derivative N = 1 supergravity, defined by a holomorphic function F of the chiral scalar curvature superfield, and the standard theory of a chiral scalar superfield with a chiral superpotential W , coupled to the (minimal) Poincaré supergravity in four spacetime dimensions. The relation between the holomorphic functions F and W is found. It can be used as the technical framework for the possible scenario unifying the early Universe inflation and the present Universe acceleration. We speculate on the possible origin of our model as the effective supergravity generated by quantum superstrings, with a dilaton-axion field as the leading field component of the chiral superfield. Supported in part by the endowment of the John S. Toll Professorship, the University of Maryland Center for String & Particle Theory, US National Science Foundation Grant PHY-0354401, and the Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) Email: [email protected] Permanent address: Department of Physics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192–1397, Japan. Email: [email protected]