The expansion rate of `Intermediate inflation' lies between the exponential and power law expansion but corresponding accelerated expansion does not start at the onset of cosmological evolution. Present study of `Intermediate inflation' reveals that it admits scaling solution and has got a natural exit form it at a later epoch of cosmic evolution, leading to late time acceleration. The corresponding scalar field responsible for such feature is also found to be a tracker field for both gravity with canonical and some non-canonical form of kinetic term. Thus the so called Intermediate inflation should be considered as yet another dark energy model with asymptotic de-Sitter expansion.
We describe the universe as a local, inhomogeneous spherical bubble embedded in a flat matter dominated FLRW universe. Generalized exact Friedmann equations describe the expansion of the universe and an early universe inflationary de Sitter solution is obtained. A non-perturbative expression for the deceleration parameter q is derived that can possibly describe the acceleration of the universe without dark energy, due to the effects associated with very long wave length super-horizon inflationary perturbations. The suggestion by Kolbe et al. [9] that long wave length super-horizon inflationary…
A simple model of quintessential inflation with the modified exponential potential exp(-αϕ) [A + (ϕ-ϕ_0)^2] is analyzed in the braneworld context. Considering reheating via instant preheating, it is shown that the evolution of the scalar field ϕfrom inflation to the present epoch is consistent with the observational constraints in a wide region of the parameter space. The model exhibits transient acceleration at late times for 0.96 < A α^2 < 1.26 and 271 < ϕ_0 α< 273, while permanent acceleration is obtained for 2.3 10^{-8} < A α^2 < 0.98 and 255 < ϕ_0 α< 273. The steep parameter αis constrain…
A modified model of gravity with additional positive and negative powers of the scalar curvature, $R$, in the gravitational action is studied. This is done using the Palatini variational principle. It is demonstrated that using such a model might prove useful to explain both the early time inflation and the late time cosmic acceleration without the need for any form of dark energy.
A new idea of deriving a cosmological term from an underlying theory has been proposed in order to explain the expansion history of the universe. We obtain the scale factor with this derived cosmological term and demonstrate that it reflects all the characteristics of the expanding universe in different era so as to result in a transition from inflation to late acceleration through intermediate decelerating phases by this single entity. We further discuss certain observational aspects of this paradigm.
The modified gravity, which eliminates the need for dark energy and which seems to be stable, is considered. The terms with positive powers of the curvature support the inflationary epoch while the terms with negative powers of the curvature serve as effective dark energy, supporting current cosmic acceleration. The equivalent scalar-tensor gravity may be compatible with the simplest solar system experiments.
We study inflation and late-time acceleration in the expansion of the universe in non-minimal electromagnetism, in which the electromagnetic field couples to the scalar curvature function. It is shown that power-law inflation can be realized due to the non-minimal gravitational coupling of the electromagnetic field, and that large-scale magnetic fields can be generated due to the breaking of the conformal invariance of the electromagnetic field through its non-minimal gravitational coupling. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that both inflation and the late-time acceleration of the universe can …
In recent years different explanations are provided for both an inflation and a recent acceleration in the expansion of the universe. In this Letter we show that a model of physical interest is the modification of general relativity with a Gauss-Bonnet term coupled to a dynamical scalar-field as predicted by certain versions of string theory. This construction provides a model of evolving dark energy that naturally explains a dynamical relaxation of the vacuum energy (gravitationally repulsive potential) to a small value (exponentially close to zero) after a sufficient number of e-folds. The m…
An exact inhomogeneous solution of Einstein's field equations is shown to be able to inflate in a non-uniform way in the early universe and explain anomalies in the WMAP power spectrum data. It is also possible for the model to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe by late-time inhomogeneous structure.
We study the future evolution of quintessence/phantom dominated epoch in modified $F(R)$-gravity which unifies the early-time inflation with late-time acceleration and which is consistent with observational tests. Using the reconstruction technique it is demonstrated that there are models where any known (Big Rip, II, III or IV Type) singularity may classically occur. From another side, in Einstein frame (scalar-tensor description) only IV Type singularity occurs. Near the singularity the classical description breaks up, it is demonstrated that quantum effects act against the singularity and m…
We present a model with a complex and a real scalar fields and a potential whose symmetry is explicitly broken by Planck-scale physics. For exponentially small breaking, the model accounts for the period of inflation in the early universe and for the period of acceleration of the late universe or for the dark matter, depending on the smallness of the explicit breaking.
We propose quantifying the quantum gravitational back-reaction on inflation with an invariant measure of the local acceleration rather than the expansion rate. Our observable is suitable for models in which there is no scalar inflaton to provide a preferred velocity field with which to define the expansion. As an example, we use stochastic techniques to evaluate the local acceleration at one loop order for Lambda-driven inflation in pure quantum gravity.
A unified approach to quintessence and inflation is investigated with the use of a single scalar field. It is argued that successful potentials have to approximate a combination of exponential and inverse power-law decline in the limit of large values of the scalar field. A class of such potentials is studied analytically and it is found that quintessential inflation is indeed possible. Successful models, not involving more than two natural mass scales, are obtained, which do not require fine-tuning of initial conditions and do not result in eternal acceleration.
I review the motivation for the early-time cosmic acceleration stage in expanding universe and discuss simple inflationary scenarios. Preheating and reheating are considered in great detail. This is a sample chapter from my book "Physical Foundations of Cosmology" published by Cambridge University Press (2005).
The nonminimal coupling (NMC) of the scalar field to the Ricci curvature is unavoidable in many cosmological scenarios. Inflation and quintessence models based on nonminimally coupled scalar fields are studied, with particular attention to the balance between the scalar potential and the NMC term in the action. NMC makes acceleration of the universe harder to achieve for the usual potentials, but it is beneficial in obtaining cosmic acceleration with unusual potentials. The slow-roll approximation with NMC, conformal transformation techniques, and other aspects of the physics of NMC are clarif…
We explore the cosmological model in which a late-time mild inflation is realized after the star formation epoch. Non-vanishing curvature coupling of a classical boson field yields this mild inflation without a cosmological constant. Accordingly the lifetime of the present Universe is remarkably increased in our model. Thus we show that the present observed high value of the Hubble parameter $H_0 \approx 70-80{\rm km/sec/Mpc}$ is compatible with the age of the oldest stars $14{\rm Gyr}$ without introducing the cosmological constant or the open Universe model. Moreover in our model, the local H…
The unifying approach to early-time and late-time universe based on phantom cosmology is proposed. We consider gravity-scalar system which contains usual potential and scalar coupling function in front of kinetic term. As a result, the possibility of phantom-non-phantom transition appears in such a way that universe could have effectively phantom equation of state at early time as well as at late time. In fact, the oscillating universe may have several phantom and non-phantom phases. As a second model we suggest generalized holographic dark energy where infrared cutoff is identified with combi…
We present a model based on the idea that Planck-scale effects may produce a small explicit breaking of global symmetries. The model contains a new complex scalar field $Ψ$, charged under a certain global U(1) symmetry, interacting with a new real scalar field $χ$, neutral under U(1). For exponentially small breaking, the model accounts for both {\em early} and {\em late} periods of acceleration of the universe.
We present a model with a complex and a real scalar fields and a potential whose symmetry is explicitly broken by Planck-scale physics. For exponentially small breaking, the model accounts for the period of inflation in the early universe and for the period of acceleration of the late universe.
We review on the viability of $F(R)$-gravity. We show that recent cosmic acceleration, radiation/matter-dominated epoch and inflation could be realized in the framework of $F(R)$-gravity in the unified way. For some classes of $F(R)$-gravity, the correction to the Newton law is extremely small and there is no so-called matter instability (the very heavy positive mass for additional scalar degree of freedom is generated). The reconstruction program in modified gravity is also reviewed and it is demonstrated that {\it any} time-evolution of the universe expansion could be realized in $F(R)$-grav…
We review modified $F(R)$ gravity as realistic candidate to describe the observable universe expansion history. We show that recent cosmic acceleration, radiation/matter-dominated epoch and inflation could be realized in the framework of $F(R)$-gravity in the unified way. For some viable classes of $F(R)$-gravity, the Newton law is respected and there is no so-called matter instability (the very heavy positive mass for additional scalar degree of freedom is generated). The reconstruction program in modified gravity is also reviewed and it is demonstrated that {\it any} time-evolution of the un…
We review the unification of early-time inflation with late-time acceleration in several local modified gravity models which pass Solar System and cosmological tests. It is also demonstrated that account of non-local gravitational corrections to the action does not destroy the possibility of such unification. Dark matter effect is caused by composite graviton degree of freedom in such models.
In this paper it has been shown that the neutrino bulk viscous stresses can give rise to the late time acceleration of the universe. It is found that a number of spatially flat FRW models with a negative deceleration parameter can be constructed using neutrino viscosity and one of them mimics a $Λ$CDM model. This does not require any exotic dark energy component or any modification of gravity.
The situation that a scalar field provides the source of the accelerated expansion of the universe while rolling down its potential is common in both the simple models of the primordial inflation and the quintessence-based dark energy models. Motivated by this point, we address the possibility of causing the current acceleration via the primordial inflation using a simple model based on hybrid inflation. We trigger the onset of the motion of the quintessence field via the transition field, and find that the fate of the universe depends on the true vacuum energy determined by choosing the param…
In this work we have investigated the possibility of having a late time accelerated phase of the universe, suggested by recent supernova observation, in the context of Brans Dicke (BD) theory with a symmetry breaking potential and a matter field. We find that a perfect fluid matter field (pressureless and with pressure) cannot support this acceleration but a fluid with dissipative pressure can drive this late time acceleration. We have also calculated some cosmological parameters in our model to match with observations.
We propose a scenario where inflation is driven by non-minimally coupled massive vector fields. In an isotropic homogeneous universe these fields behave in presicely the same way as a massive minimally coupled scalar field. Therefore our model is very similar to the model of chaotic inflation with scalar field. For vector fields the isotropy of expansion is achived either by considering a triplet of orthogonal vector fields or for the expense of $N$ randomly oriented vector fields. In the last case the substantial anisotropy of the expansion of order $1/\sqrt{N}$ survives until the end of infl…
Liouville string theory is a natural framework for discussing the non-equilibrium evolution of the Universe. It enables non-critical strings to be treated in mathematically consistent manner, in which target time is identified with a world-sheet renormalization-group scale parameter, preserving target-space general coordinate invariance and the existence of an S-matrix. We review our proposals for a unified treatment of inflation and the current acceleration of the Universe. We link the current acceleration of the Universe with the value of the string coupling. In such a scenario, the dilaton …
We consider FRW cosmology in non-local modified gravity. Its local scalar-tensor formulation is developed. It is explicitly demonstrated that such theory may lead to the unification of early-time inflation with late-time cosmic acceleration. The quintessence or phantom era may emerge for specific form of the action. The coupled non-local-F(R) gravity is also investigated. It is shown that such theory being consistent with Solar System tests may lead to the known universe history sequence: inflation, radiation/matter dominance and dark epoch.
We study inflationary cosmology and the late-time accelerated expansion of the universe in non-minimal Yang-Mills (YM) theory, in which the YM field couples to a function of the scalar curvature. It is shown that power-law inflation can be realized due to the non-minimal YM field-gravitational coupling which maybe caused by quantum corrections. Moreover, it is demonstrated that both inflation and the late-time accelerated expansion of the universe can be realized in a modified YM-$F(R)$ gravity which is consistent with solar system tests. Furthermore, it is shown that this result can be realiz…
It is shown here that a dynamical Planck mass can drive the scale factor of the universe to accelerate. The negative pressure which drives the cosmic acceleration is identified with the unusual kinetic energy density of the Planck field. No potential nor cosmological constant is required. This suggests a purely gravity driven, kinetic inflation. Although the possibility is not ruled out, the burst of acceleration is often too weak to address the initial condition problems of cosmology. To illustrate the kinetic acceleration, three different cosmologies are presented. One such example, that of …
We suggest two realistic f(R) and one F(G) modified gravities which are consistent with local tests and cosmological bounds. The typical property of such theories is the presence of the effective cosmological constant epochs in such a way that early-time inflation and late-time cosmic acceleration are naturally unified within single model. It is shown that classical instability does not appear here and Newton law is respected. Some discussion of possible anti-gravity regime appearence and related modification of the theory is done.
It is obtained that dark energy emerges from higher-derivative gravity with anon-linear terms proportional to $R^2$ and $R^3$ with $R$ being the Ricci scalar curvature. Interestingly, it is found that the universe begins with acceleration, which continues for a short period. Later on,it decelerates driven by radiation and subsequently by matter. Two components of dark energy are found here.In the early universe, dark energy mimics quintessence giving high vlue of initial density $\sim 10^{75} {\rm GeV}^4$ at Planck scale. But, in the late universe, dark energy behaves like phantom giving curre…
We consider the modified gravity non-minimally coupled with matter Lagrangian for the description of early-time and late-time universe. Such $F(R)$ ($F(G)$) gravity in the absence of non-minimal coupling is viable theory which passes the local tests and reproduces the $Λ$CDM era. For qualitatively similar choice of non-minimal gravitational coupling function it is shown that the unified description of early-time inflation and late-time cosmic acceleration is possible. It is interesting that matter (scalar) which supports the inflationary era is gravitationally screened at late times. Hence, it…
The string $α^\prime$-correction to the usual Einstein action comprises a Gauss-Bonnet integrand multiplied by non-trivial functions of the modulus field $χ$ and/or the dilaton field $ϕ$. We discuss how the presence of such terms in the four dimensional effective action can explain several novel phenomena, such as a four-dimensional flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe undergoing a cosmic inflation at the early epoch, as well as a cosmic acceleration at late times. The model predicts, during inflation, spectra of both density perturbations and gravitational waves that may fall well within …