Monopole Problem and Extensions of Supersymmetric Hybrid Inflation

We discuss, in the context of a concrete supersymmetric grand unified model based on the Pati-Salam gauge group SU(4)_c x SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R, two "natural" extensions of supersymmetric hybrid inflation, which avoid the cosmological disaster encountered in the standard hybrid inflationary scenario from the overproduction of monopoles at the end of inflation. Successful "reheating" which satisfies the gravitino constraint takes place after the end of inflation. Also, adequate baryogenesis via a primordial leptogenesis occurs consistently with the solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillation data as well as the SU(4)_c symmetry. Moreover, the mu-term is generated via a Peccei-Quinn symmetry and proton is practically stable.