The thermal inflation is the most plausible mechanism that solves the cosmological moduli problem naturally. We discuss relic abundance of superheavy particle X in the presence of the thermal inflation assuming that its lifetime is longer than the age of the universe, and show that the long-lived particle X of mass 1012–1014 GeV may form a part of the dark matter in the present universe in a wi...

The searches for classical Dirac Magnetic Monopoles (MMs) at accelerators, for GUT superheavy MMs in the penetrating cosmic radiation and for Intermediate Mass MMs at high altitudes are discussed. Also the searches for nuclearites and Q-balls are considered.

The searches for classical Dirac Magnetic Monopoles (MMs) at accelerators, for GUT superheavy MMs in the penetrating cosmic radiation and for Intermediate Mass MMs at high altitudes are discussed. Also the searches for nuclearites and Q-balls are considered.

A new group of giant radioactive halos has been found with radii in excess of anything previously discovered. Since alternate explanations for these giant halos are inconclusive at present, the possibility is considered that they originate with unknown alpha radioactivity, either from isomers of known elements or from superheavy elements.

A re-examination of the energy cosmic ray spectrum above 10 eV is presented. The overall data-base provides evidence, albeit still statistically limited, that nonnucleon primaries could be present at the end of the spectrum. In particular, the possible appearance of superheavy nuclei (seldom discussed in the literature) is analysed in detail.

We present viable F-term realizations of the hybrid inflationary scenario in the context of supergravity addressing at the same time the well-known problems of the initial conditions and of the adequate suppression of the inflaton mass. An essential role in our construction is played by “decoupled” superheavy fields without superpotential acquiring large vevs due to D-terms associated with “ano...