Moduli fields, scalar fields which parametrize different vacuum states of a given theory, are commonly predicted to exist within compactifications of UV complete theories, and in particular those theories exhibiting supersymmetry. But if such theories' dynamics are present during the inflationary phase of the universe and thereafter, what are the implications for cosmology and the evolution of the universe? In this thesis a review is presented on generic consequences of the presence of these scalar fields during inflation and the post-inflationary era of the universe. An unexpected consequence arises in the study of dark matter production, where a deviation from the usual thermal production mechanism is shown to be required.
In addition to studies in cosmology, the dynamics of a twisted construction of supersymmetric lattice quantum field theory is explored. An analysis of the fermionic sign problem is presented and it is shown to be absent in the studied formulation. A first study of the phase structure of supersymmetric N = 4 supersymmetric gauge theory is also presented.
","abstract_html":"<p>Moduli fields, scalar fields which parametrize different vacuum states of a given theory, are commonly predicted to exist within compactifications of UV complete theories, and in particular those theories exhibiting supersymmetry. But if such theories' dynamics are present during the inflationary phase of the universe and thereafter, what are the implications for cosmology and the evolution of the universe? In this thesis a review is presented on generic consequences of the presence of these scalar fields during inflation and the post-inflationary era of the universe. An unexpected consequence arises in the study of dark matter production, where a deviation from the usual thermal production mechanism is shown to be required.</p> <p>In addition to studies in cosmology, the dynamics of a twisted construction of supersymmetric lattice quantum field theory is explored. An analysis of the fermionic sign problem is presented and it is shown to be absent in the studied formulation. A first study of the phase structure of supersymmetric N = 4 supersymmetric gauge theory is also presented.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Galvez, Richard Anthony"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Physics","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Scott G. Watson"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-05-15T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-05-15T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:54:59Z","subjects":["Cosmology","Lattice","Supersymmetry","Physical Sciences and Mathematics"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://surface.syr.edu/etd/207","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Scott G. Watson"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Galvez, Richard Anthony"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Physics"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Cosmology","Lattice","Supersymmetry","Physical Sciences and Mathematics"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://surface.syr.edu/etd/207"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Moduli fields, scalar fields which parametrize different vacuum states of a given theory, are commonly predicted to exist within compactifications of UV complete theories, and in particular those theories exhibiting supersymmetry. But if such theories' dynamics are present during the inflationary phase of the universe and thereafter, what are the implications for cosmology and the evolution of the universe? In this thesis a review is presented on generic consequences of the presence of these scalar fields during inflation and the post-inflationary era of the universe. An unexpected consequence arises in the study of dark matter production, where a deviation from the usual thermal production mechanism is shown to be required.
In addition to studies in cosmology, the dynamics of a twisted construction of supersymmetric lattice quantum field theory is explored. An analysis of the fermionic sign problem is presented and it is shown to be absent in the studied formulation. A first study of the phase structure of supersymmetric N = 4 supersymmetric gauge theory is also presented.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Topics in Supersymmetry: Implications for Cosmology and Non-Perturbative Studies on a Spacetime Lattice"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Scott G. Watson"],"dc:creator":["Galvez, Richard Anthony"],"dc:description.abstract":["Moduli fields, scalar fields which parametrize different vacuum states of a given theory, are commonly predicted to exist within compactifications of UV complete theories, and in particular those theories exhibiting supersymmetry. But if such theories' dynamics are present during the inflationary phase of the universe and thereafter, what are the implications for cosmology and the evolution of the universe? In this thesis a review is presented on generic consequences of the presence of these scalar fields during inflation and the post-inflationary era of the universe. An unexpected consequence arises in the study of dark matter production, where a deviation from the usual thermal production mechanism is shown to be required.
In addition to studies in cosmology, the dynamics of a twisted construction of supersymmetric lattice quantum field theory is explored. An analysis of the fermionic sign problem is presented and it is shown to be absent in the studied formulation. A first study of the phase structure of supersymmetric N = 4 supersymmetric gauge theory is also presented.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://surface.syr.edu/etd/207"],"dc:subject":["Cosmology","Lattice","Supersymmetry","Physical Sciences and Mathematics"],"dc:title":["Topics in Supersymmetry: Implications for Cosmology and Non-Perturbative Studies on a Spacetime Lattice"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Physics"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:54:59Z"}