Superstring-inspired supergravity as the universal source of inflation and quintessence

Understand

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) Poincare 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.