Recent work in supersymmetric astroparticle physics

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In the first instants after the big bang the universe was expanding exponentially due, apparently, to a very great vacuum energy. In less than a second, however, there was a transition to the current mildly inflating universe characterized by a small but still positive vacuum energy. We have suggested that the ultimate ground state of the universe will be an exactly supersymmetric state of zero vacuum energy. Recent studies have concentrated on constructing a Lagrangian Higgs model for this transition [1] ,[2] and on examining the expected properties of this future supersymmetric universe [3],[4],[5],[6]. It has also been suggested that a precursor of this ultimate vacuum decay may be a susy transition in dense stars [7],[8] where the transition probability is strongly enhanced leading to gamma ray bursts. This phase transition might also serve to trigger the SN Ia explosion in white dwarf stars [9].

For a layman's synopsis of the current picture of the fundamental structure of matter click here

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