A Crucial Ingredient of Inflation

Nonminimal coupling of the inflaton field to the Ricci curvature of spacetime is generally unavoidable, and the paradigm of inflation should be generalized by including the corresponding term R²/2 in the Lagrangian of the inflationary theory. This paper reports on the status of the programme of generalizing inflation. First, the problem of finding the correct value (or set of values) of the coupling constant is analyzed; the result has important consequences for the success or failure of inflationary scenarios. Then, the slow-roll approximation to generalized inflation is studied. Both the unperturbed inflating universe models and scalar/tensor perturbations are discussed, and open problems are pointed out.     

Operator product expansion of inflationary correlators and conformal symmetry of de Sitter

We study the multifield inflationary models where the cosmological perturbation is sourced by light scalar fields other than the inflaton. The corresponding perturbations are both scale invariant and special conformally invariant. We exploit the operator product expansion technique of conformal field theories to study the inflationary correlators enjoying the symmetries present during the de Sitter epoch. The operator product expansion is particularly powerful in characterizing inflationary correlation functions in two observationally interesting limits, the squeezed limit of the three-point correlator and the collapsed limit of the four-point correlator. Despite the fact that the shape of the four-point correlators is not fixed by the symmetries of de Sitter, its exact shape can be found in the collapsed limit making use of the operator product expansion. By employing the fact that conformal invariance imposes the two-point cross-correlations of the light fields to vanish unless the fields have the same conformal weights, we are able to show that the Suyama–Yamaguchi inequality relating the coefficients _fNL$f_{\mathrm{NL}}$ of the bispectrum in the squeezed limit and _τNL${\tau }_{\mathrm{NL}}$ of the trispectrum in the collapsed limit also holds when the light fields are intrinsically non-Gaussian. In fact, we show that the inequality is valid irrespectively of the conformal symmetry, being just a consequence of fundamental physical principles, such as the short-distance expansion of operator products. The observation of a strong violation of the inequality will then have profound implications for inflationary models as it will imply either that multifield inflation cannot be responsible for generating the observed fluctuations independently of the details of the model or that some new non-trivial degrees of freedom play a role during inflation.     

Causality in Inflationary Universes with Positive Spatial Curvature

We show that in the case of positively-curved Friedmann-Lemaître universes (k = +1), an inflationary period in the early universe will for most initial conditions not solve the horizon problem, no matter how long inflation lasts. It will only do so for cases where inflation starts in an almost static state, corresponding to an extremely high value of , 1, at the beginning of inflation. For smaller values, it is not possible to solve the horizon problem because the relevant integral asymptotes to a finite value (as happens also in the de Sitter universe in a k = +1 frame). Thus, for these cases, the causal problems associated with the near-isotropy of the Cosmic Background Radiation have to be solved already in the Planck era. Furthermore both compact space sections and event horizons will exist in these universes even if the present cosmological constant dies away in the far future, raising potential problems for M-theory as a theory of gravity.     

Non-minimal Coupling of the Higgs Boson to Curvature in an Inflationary Universe

In the absence of new physics around \(10^{10}\) GeV, the electroweak vacuum is at best metastable. This represents a major challenge for high scale inflationary models as, during the early rapid expansion of the universe, it seems difficult to understand how the Higgs vacuum would not decay to the true lower vacuum of the theory with catastrophic consequences if inflation took place at a scale above \(10^{10}\) GeV. In this paper we show that the non-minimal coupling of the Higgs boson to curvature could solve this problem by generating a direct coupling of the Higgs boson to the inflationary potential thereby stabilizing the electroweak vacuum. For specific values of the Higgs field initial condition and of its non-minimal coupling, inflation can drive the Higgs field to the electroweak vacuum quickly during inflation.     

Mild Inflation and Modified General Relativity in the Early Universe

This article deals with particle creation andthe production of specific entropy per baryon in theearly universe, which is regarded as a thermodynamicallyopen system in the sense of Prigogine. The modified general relativity (MGR) theory of Rastall,Al-Rawaf, and Taha is employed. It contains an extraindependent constant which is peculiar to thenon-Newtonian regime, besides the usual gravitationalconstant. Usual general relativity (GR) appears here asa special case for = 1. With a modifiedthermodynamic energy conservation law, it is possible toobtain an equation for the expansion scalar byincorporating the epoch dependence of elementary particlemasses. The epoch dependence of particle masses for theRobertson-Walker (RW) universe appears as a consequenceof hadronic matter extension in a microlocal space-time regarded as anisotropic and Finslerian. Thegoverning equations in the present formalism specify theequation of state and give a solution for the expansionscalar. This solution represents a mild inflationary phase in the very early universe. It is alsoshown that there are no 'turn-on' and'turn-off' problems for this mild inflation.It can account for particle creation and production ofspecific entropy per baryon consistent with the observation. Theproduction of specific entropy per baryon is alsoconsidered here in the MGR framework with theintroduction of viscous pressure; the calculated valueis in good agreement with observation for the GR case, butfor the MGR case, in order to have its value withinobservational limits, must lie in the range 0.75 1. It is also argued that this formalismdoes not have horizon and flatnessproblems.     

Assisted Inflation in Bianchi VI0 Cosmologies

Exact models for Bianchi VI₀ spacetimes with multiple scalar fields with exponential potentials have been derived and analysed. It has been shown that these solutions, when they exist, attract neighbouring solutions in the two cases corresponding to interacting and non-interacting fields. Unlike the results obtained in a previous work dealing with the late-time inflationary behaviour of Bianchi VI₀ cosmologies, the knowledge of exact solutions has made possible to study in detail the occurrence of inflation before the asymptotic regime. As happened in preceding works, here as well inflation is more likely to happen with a higher number of non-interacting fields or a lower number of interacting scalar fields.     

The consistent result of cosmological constant from quantum cosmology and inflation with Born–Infeld scalar field

Quantum cosmology with a Born–Infeld (BI) type scalar field is considered. In the extreme limits of a small cosmological scale factor the wave function of the universe can also be obtained by applying the methods developed by Hartle–Hawking (HH) and Vilenkin. The HH wave function approach predicts that the most probable cosmological constant Λ equals ( equals the maximum of the kinetic energy of the scalar field). It is different from the original results (Λ=0) for the cosmological constant obtained by Hartle–Hawking. The Vilenkin wave function predicts a nucleating universe with the largest possible cosmological constant, and it is larger than 1/η. The conclusions can nicely be reconciled with cosmic inflation. We investigate the inflation model with the BI type scalar field and find that η depends on the amplitude of the tensor perturbation δ_h, having the form The vacuum energy in the inflation epoch depends on the tensor-to-scalar ratio δ_h/δ_Φ. The amplitude of the tensor perturbation δ_h may, in principle, be large enough to be discovered. However, it is only on the border of detectability in future experiments. If it will have been observed in the future, this will be very interesting as regards determining the vacuum energy in the inflation epoch. PACS  98.80.Cq, 04.65.+e, 11.25.-w     

De Sitter solutions in higher order gravity

We consider de Sitter solutions, relevant for instance in studies of inflation, in cosmologies where the gravitational Lagrangian is a functionf(R),R being the scalar curvature. Previous investigations have mostly concentrated onf(R) = R+R² which always has a solution matching the conventional de Sitter one. We show that this circumstance is rather exceptional, and that one must go to higher terms to see signs of the generic behaviour, In general the de Sitter solutions are different from those of Einstein gravity. We present complete solutions for the general cubic Lagrangian. We also address the question of when the solutions to equations from truncated actions can be expected to well represent solutions of some full (and possibly unknown) theory. Such theories provide the possibility of weakening the bounds on the energy density of the inflaton, allowing an easier reconciliation of the inflationary universe with structure-forming topological defects.     

Fluctuations in a supersymmetric inflationary universe

It has been demonstrated that fluctuations in the new inflationary universe may be almost scale-invariant, but are unfortunately too large. We show that supersymmetric inflationary models allow the fluctuations to be smaller. In a toy supersymmetric model, the perturbations are O(10⁻⁴) is the Yukawa interactions are O(10⁻⁶μ/m_p) where μ is the magnitude of the Higgs vacuum expectation value driving the inflation. It is therefore easier to have small fluctuations if inflation occurs close to the Planck epoch.     

Particle masses in the early universe: Matter and entropy productions

This article deals with the particle and entropy productions in the early universe, which is regarded as a thermodynamically open system in the sense of Prigogine, by incorporating the epoch dependence of elementary particle masses. The epoch dependence of particle masses for some of the Robertson-Walker (RW) universes appears as a consequence of previous considerations of the hadronic matter extension in the inner space-time regarded as anisotropic and Finslerian in character. The nature of the evolution of the early universe has been discussed in the framework of the modified thermodynamic energy conservation law and the new mass formula apart from the other Einstein equation. The trivial solution of these equations is the usual inflationary stage of the early universe, whereas the matter-dominated RW universe appears as the nontrivial solution. It is shown that at the transition epocht=10^–23 sec the creation phenomenon stops and the usual cosmology of the radiation era follows with Pascal's equation of state. This model can also account for the observed specific entropy per baryon of the present universe and the generation of the large value ofK ^–1, whereK=Gm _p ² /c,m _p being the mass of the proton.     

Fresh Inflation from Five-Dimensional Vacuum State

I study fresh inflation from a five-dimensional vacuum state, where the fifth dimension is constant. In this framework, the universe can be seen as inflating in a four-dimensional Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric embedding in a five-dimensional metric. Finally, the experimental data n _s = 1 (BOOMERANG-98 and MAXIMA-1, taken together COBE DMR), are consistent with in the fresh inflationary scenario.     

Observational Constraints on the Chaplygin Gas with Inverse Power Law Potential in Braneworld Inflation

We study Chaplygin gas as a candidate for inflation in the context of braneworld inflationary model. We investigate this model in the framework of the Randall–Sundrum type II, considering a original and generalized Chaplygin gas. We use inverse power law potential to examine the behavior of some inflationary spectrum parameters such as the spectral index n_s, the ratio r and the running of the scalar spectral index dn_s/dlnk, our results are in agreement with recent observational data for a particular choice of e-folding number N and parameters space of the model.     

Reheating in tachyonic inflationary models: Effects on the large scale curvature perturbations

We investigate the problem of perturbative reheating and its effects on the evolution of the curvature perturbations in tachyonic inflationary models. We derive the equations governing the evolution of the scalar perturbations for a system consisting of a tachyon and a perfect fluid. Assuming the perfect fluid to be radiation, we solve the coupled equations for the system numerically and study the evolution of the perturbations from the sub-Hubble to the super-Hubble scales. In particular, we analyze the effects of the transition from tachyon driven inflation to the radiation dominated epoch on the evolution of the large scale curvature and non-adiabatic pressure perturbations. We consider two different potentials to describe the tachyon and study the effects of two possible types of decay of the tachyon into radiation. We plot the spectrum of curvature perturbations at the end of inflation as well as at the early stages of the radiation dominated epoch. We find that reheating does not affect the amplitude of the curvature perturbations in any of these cases. These results corroborate similar conclusions that have been arrived at earlier based on the study of the evolution of the perturbations in the super-Hubble limit. We illustrate that, before the transition to the radiation dominated epoch, the relative non-adiabatic pressure perturbation between the tachyon and radiation decays in a fashion very similar to that of the intrinsic entropy perturbation associated with the tachyon. Moreover, we show that, after the transition, the relative non-adiabatic pressure perturbation dies down extremely rapidly during the early stages of the radiation dominated epoch. It is these behavior which ensure that the amplitude of the curvature perturbations remain unaffected during reheating. We also discuss the corresponding results for the popular chaotic inflation model in the case of the canonical scalar field.     

Self-accelerated Universe Induced by Repulsive Effects as an Alternative to Dark Energy and Modified Gravities

The existence of current–time universe’s acceleration is usually modeled by means of two main strategies. The first makes use of a dark energy barotropic fluid entering by hand the energy–momentum tensor of Einstein’s theory. The second lies on extending the Hilbert–Einstein action giving rise to the class of extended theories of gravity. In this work, we propose a third approach, derived as an intrinsic geometrical effect of space–time, which provides repulsive regions under certain circumstances. We demonstrate that the effects of repulsive gravity naturally emerge in the field of a homogeneous and isotropic universe. To this end, we use an invariant definition of repulsive gravity based upon the behavior of the curvature eigenvalues. Moreover, we show that repulsive gravity counterbalances the standard gravitational attraction influencing both late and early times of the universe evolution. This phenomenon leads to the present speed up and to the fast expansion due to the inflationary epoch. In so doing, we are able to unify both dark energy and inflation in a single scheme, showing that the universe changes its dynamics when \({\ddot{H}\over H}=-2 \dot{H}\), at the repulsion onset time where this condition is satisfied. Further, we argue that the spatial scalar curvature can be taken as vanishing because it does not affect at all the emergence of repulsive gravity. We check the goodness of our approach through two cosmological fits involving the most recent union 2.1 supernova compilation.     

New approaches for inflationary cosmology

Extended and hyperextended inflationary models of the universe have been developed which avoid the extreme fine-tuning required by all previous approaches. The models also generate a new source of inhomogeneities that affect large-scale structure. The most surprising feature is the role that inflation can play in altering the nature of the gravitational force.This essay received the second award from the Gravity Research Foundation, 1990 —Ed.     

Reconstruction of constant slow-roll inflation

Using the relations between the slow-roll parameters and the power spectra for the single field slow-roll inflation, we derive the scalar spectral tilt n_s and the tensor to scalar ratio r for the constant slow-roll inflation, and obtain the constraint on the slow-roll parameter η from the Planck 2015 results. The inflationary potential for the constant slow-roll inflation is then reconstructed in the framework of both general relativity and the scalar-tensor theory of gravity, and compared with the recently reconstructed E model potential. In the strong coupling limit, we show that the η attractor is reached.     

Dynamics of polynomial Chaplygin gas warm inflation

In the present work, we study the consequences of a recently proposed polynomial inflationary potential in the context of the generalized, modified, and generalized cosmic Chaplygin gas models. In addition, we consider dissipative effects by coupling the inflation field to radiation, i.e., the inflationary dynamics is studied in the warm inflation scenario. We take into account a general parametrization of the dissipative coefficient \(\Gamma \) for describing the decay of the inflaton field into radiation. By studying the background and perturbative dynamics in the weak and strong dissipative regimes of warm inflation separately for the positive and negative quadratic and quartic potentials, we obtain expressions for the most relevant inflationary observables as the scalar power spectrum, the scalar spectral, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio. We construct the trajectories in the \(n_\mathrm{s}\)–r plane for several expressions of the dissipative coefficient and compare with the two-dimensional marginalized contours for (\(n_\mathrm{s},r\)) from the latest Planck data. We find that our results are in agreement with WMAP9 and Planck 2015 data.     

Leptogenesis in inflationary models with non-Abelian gauge fields

A scenario of leptogenesis was introduced in Alexander et al. (Phys Rev Lett 96:081301, 2006) which works during inflationary period within standard model of particle physics setup. In this scenario lepton number is created by the gravitational chiral anomaly which has a non-zero expectation value for models of inflation driven by pseudoscalar field(s). Here, we observe that models of inflation involving non-Abelian gauge fields, e.g. the chromo-natural inflation (Adshead and Wyman in Phys Rev Lett 108:261302, 2012) or the gauge-flation (Maleknejad and Sheikh-Jabbari in Phys Lett B 723:224, 2013. arXiv:1102.1513 [hep-ph]), have a parity-violating tensor mode (graviton) spectrum and naturally lead to a non-vanishing expectation value for the gravitational chiral anomaly. Therefore, one has a natural leptogenesis scenario associated with these inflationary setups, inflato-natural leptogenesis. We argue that the observed value of baryon-to-photon number density can be explained in a natural range of parameters in these models.     

Randall–Sundrum II model from small field inflation in light of planck data and reheating temperature

We focus on the behaviours of small field of an arctangent potential form, in Randall–Sundrum II braneworld. Within this framework, there is only one brane with positive tension while the second membrane is sent to infinity, and the configuration the model allows to localize the gravity on the curvature of the bulk. In that context, we found that inflationary observables (n _s, r, and dn _s/dlnk) depend only on the e-folding number N. From the power perturbation value P _R (k) given by the latest observational measurements, we evaluate the values of brane tension λ and the energy scale V ₀, and we have shown that the various inflationary perturbation parameters are widely consistent with the recent Planck data for a suitable choice of value of the number N. Concerning the reheating phase, we found a large value of the temperature T _re ～ 5 × 10¹⁴ GeV.     

Inflation Driven by q-de Sitter

We propose a generalised de Sitter scale factor for the cosmology of early and late time universe, including single scalar field is called as inflaton. This form of scale factor has a free parameter q is called as nonextensivity parameter. When q = 1, the scale factor is de Sitter. This scale factor is an intermediate form between power-law and de Sitter. We study cosmology of such families. We show that both kinds of dark components, dark energy and dark matter simultaneously are described by this family of solutions. As a motivated idea, we investigate inflation in the framework of q-de Sitter. We consider three types of scenarios for inflation. In a single inflation scenario, we observe that, inflation ended without any specific ending inflation ?_end, the spectral index and the associated running of the spectral index are n_s ? 1 ～ ?2??, α_s ≡ 0. To end the inflation: we should have \(q=\frac {3}{4}\). We deduce that the inflation ends when the evolution of the scale factor is a(t) = e_3/4(t). With this scale factor there is no need to specify ?_end. As an alternative to have inflation with ending point, We will study q-inflation model in the context of warm inflation. We propose two forms of damping term Γ. In the first case when Γ = Γ₀, we show the scale invariant spectrum, (Harrison-Zeldovich spectrum, i.e. n_s = 1) may be approximately presented by (\(q=\frac {9}{10},~~N=70\)). Also there is a range of values of R and n_s which is compatible with the BICEP2 data where \(q=\frac {9}{10}\). In case Γ = Γ₁V(?), it is observed that small values of a number of e-folds are assured for small values of q parameter. Also in this case, the scale-invariant spectrum may be represented by \((q,N) = (\frac {9}{10},70)\). For \(q=\frac {9}{10}\) a range of values of R and n_s is compatible with the BICEP2 data. Consequently, the proposal of q-de Sitter is consistent with observational data. We observe that the non-extensivity parameter q plays a significant role in inflationary scenario.