We consider static non-extremal charged black hole solutions in the context of N=2 gauged supergravity theories in five dimensions, and we show that they satisfy first-order flow equations. Then we analyze the motion of the dual brane in these black hole backgrounds. We express the entropy in terms of a Cardy-Verlinde-type formula, and we show that the equations describing the FRW cosmology on the brane have a form that is similar to the equations for the entropy and for the Casimir energy on the brane. We also briefly comment on the inclusion of a Gauss-Bonnet term in the analysis.
We consider a four-dimensional flat-space Friedman universe, which is filled with two interacting ideal fluids (the coupling of dark energy with dark matter of special form). The gravitational equations of motion are solved. It is shown that in some cases there appears a periodic universe with finite-time cosmological singularities and also the universe becomes static in the remote future.
We construct a DGP inspired braneworld scenario where a scalar field non-minimally coupled to the induced Ricci curvature is present on the brane. We show that this model allows for an embedding of the standard Friedmann cosmology in the sense that the cosmological evolution of the background metric on the brane can be described by the standard Friedmann equation. The relation between our framework and the dark-energy formalism is explored.
We consider the purely gravitational fourth-order (in the spacetime curvature) quantum corrections to the Einstein-Hilbert gravity action, coming from superstrings in the leading order with respect to the Regge slope parameter, and study their impact on the evolution of the Hubble scale in the context of the FRW cosmology, in four spacetime dimensions. We propose the generalized Friedmann equations, and rule out the most naive (Bel-Robinson tensor squared) gravity. Our new cosmological equations have exact inflationary solutions without a spacetime singularity.
We use the metric on the space of gravity fields given by DeWitt to construct a unique kinematic measure on the space of FRW simple fluids and show that when the mass parameter $Ω$ is used as a coordinate this measure is singular at $Ω= 1$. This singularity, combined with the time evolution of $Ω$, distorts distributions of $Ω$ values to be concentrated in the neighborhood of 1 at early times. It is a distorted distribution of $Ω$ values that sometimes misleads the casual observer to conclude that $Ω$ must be exactly equal to 1.
We discuss the classical aspects of dynamics of scalar models with non-positive Higgs potentials in the FRW cosmology. These models appear as effective local models in non-local models related with string field theories. After a suitable field redefinition these models have the form of local Higgs models with a negative extra cosmological term and the total Higgs potential is non-positively defined and has rather small coupling constant. The non-positivity of the potential leads to the fact that on some stage of evolution the expansion mode gives place to the mode of contraction, due to that t…
Thermodynamics of 5d SdS black hole is considered. Thermal fluctuations define the (sub-dominant) logarithmic corrections to black hole entropy and then to Cardy-Verlinde formula and to FRW brane cosmology. We demonstrate that logarithmic terms (which play the role of effective cosmological constant) change the behavior of 4d spherical brane in dS, SdS or Nariai bulk. In particularly, bounce Universe occurs or 4d dS brane expands to its maximum and then shrinks. The entropy bounds are also modified by next-to-leading terms. Out of braneworld context the logarithmic terms may suggest slight mod…
We present simple solutions of IKKT-type matrix models describing a quantized homogeneous and isotropic cosmology with $k=-1$, finite density of microstates and a resolved Big Bang. At late times, a linear coasting cosmology $a(t) \propto t$ is obtained, which is remarkably close to observation. The solution consists of two sheets with opposite intrinsic chiralities, which are connected in a Euclidean pre-big bang era.
We analyze the quantum supersymmetric cosmological FRW model with a scalar field, with a conditional probability density and the scalar field identified as time. The Hilbert space has a spinorial structure and there is only one consistent solution, with a conserved probability density. The dynamics of the scale factor is obtained from its mean value. The uncertainty relations are fulfilled and the corresponding fluctuations are consistent with a semiclassical Universe. We give two examples which turn out to have negative potential.
We examine the effect on cosmological evolution of adding a string motivated Gauss-Bonnet term to the traditional Einstein-Hilbert action for a (1 + 3) + d dimensional Friedman-Robertson- Walker (FRW) metric. By assuming that the additional dimensions compactify as the usual 3 spatial dimensions expand, we find that the Gauss Bonnet terms give perturbative corrections to the FRW equations. We find corrections that appear in the calculation of both the Hubble constant, H0, and the acceleration parameter, q0, for a variety of cases that are consistent with a dark energy equation of state.
In this paper, we will study the rainbow deformation of the FRW cosmology in both Einstein gravity and Gauss-Bonnet gravity. We will demonstrate that the singularity in the FRW cosmology can be removed because of the rainbow deformation of the FRW metric. We will obtain the general constraints required for the FRW cosmology to be free from singularities. It will be observed that the inclusion of Gauss-Bonnet gravity can significantly change the constraints required to obtain a nonsingular universes. We will use a rainbow functions motivated from the hard spectra of gamma-ray bursts to deform t…
We examine the effect on cosmological evolution of adding a Gauss-Bonnet term to the standard Einstein-Hilbert action for a (1 + 3)+ d dimensional Friedman-Robertson-Walker (FRW) metric. By assuming that the additional dimensions compactify as a power law as the usual 3 spatial dimensions expand, we solve the resulting dynamical equations and find that the solution may be of either de Sitter or Kasner form depending upon whether the Gauss-Bonnet term or the Einstein term dominates.
We study the quantum cosmology of a quadratic $f(R)$ theory with a FRW metric, via one of its equivalent Horndeski type actions, where the dynamics of the scalar field is induced. The classical equations of motion and the Weeler-deWitt equation, in their exact versions, are solved numerically. From the choice of a free parameter in the action follow two cases, inflation + exit and inflation alone. The numerical solution of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation depends strongly on the boundary conditions, which can be chosen so that the resulting wave function of the universe seems to be normalizable and…
The brick wall method in calculations of the entropy of black holes can be applied to the FRW cosmology in order to study the statistical entropy. An appropriate cutoff satisfying the covariant entropy bound can be chosen so that the entropy has a definite bound. Among the entropy for each of cosmological eras, the vacuum energy-dominated era turns out to give the maximal entropy which is in fact compatible with assumptions from the brick wall method.
We study FRW homogeneous cosmological solutions in the recently found ghost free massive gravity. In previous works it was shown that when the additional extra metric, needed to generate the mass term, is taken as non-dynamical and flat, no homogeneous FRW cosmology exists. We show that, when the additional metric is a dynamical field, a perfectly safe FRW universe exists. FRW solutions fall in two branches. In the first branch the massive deformation is equivalent to an effectively generated cosmological constant whose scale is determined by the graviton mass. The second branch is quite rich:…
In this paper, we propose extended Chaplygin gas equation of state for which it recovers barotropic fluid with quadratic equation of state. We use numerical method to investigate the behavior of some cosmological parameters such as scale factor, Hubble expansion parameter, energy density and deceleration parameter. We also discuss about the resulting effective equation of state parameter. Using density perturbations we investigate the stability of the theory.
We consider a flat cosmological model with a free massless scalar field and the cosmological constant $Λ$ in the framework of loop quantum cosmology. The scalar field plays the role of an intrinsic time. We apply the reduced phase space approach. The dynamics of the model is solved analytically. We identify elementary observables and their algebra. The compound physical observables like the volume and the energy density of matter field are analysed. Both compound observables are bounded and oscillate in the $Λ<0$ case. The energy density is bounded and oscillates in the $Λ>0$ case. However, th…
We consider the diffeomorphism invariant gravity coupled with the ideal fluid in the non-standard way. The Lorentz-invariance of the graviton propagator in such a theory considered as perturbation over flat background turns out to be broken due to non-standard coupling with the ideal fluid. As a result the behavior of the propagator in the ultraviolet/infrared region indicates that some versions of such theory are (super-)renormalizable ones (with appearance of only physical transverse modes). The FRW cosmology in same cases may be different from the one in General Relativity with the possible…
The partial Hamiltonian analysis of the Hořava-type action presented in the paper by M. Chaichian, S. Nojiri, S. D. Odintsov, M. Oksanen, A. Tureanu (Class. Quant. Grav. 27 (2011) 185021) is incorrect; for the authors' choice of variables, a covariant shift, instead of a contravariant shift which is the one usually used in General Relativity (GR) in ADM variables, the true algebra of constraints differs from what they presented. The algebra of constraints for their choice of variables is explicitly given for GR and compared with the standard algebra.
Using a recently introduced formalism we discuss slow-roll inflaton from Kaluza-Klein theory without the cylinder condition. In particular, some examples corresponding to polynomic and hyperbolic $ϕ$-potentials are studied. We find that the evolution of the fifth coordinate should be determinant for both, the evolution of the early inflationary universe and the quantum fluctuations.
We study the quantum cosmology of the 2D Hawking-Page massless scalar-field model and the homogeneous and isotropic dilation-axion string cosmology.For both models we find new exact solutions for the Wheeler-DeWitt equation and for the supersymmetric wave function equations. We show that the Wheeler-DeWitt equations for the Hawking-Page model and the axion-dilaton string cosmology are invariant under a one-parameter and two-parameter squeezed transformations, respectively. These results allow to find new solutions for the wave functions of these systems at the quantum cosmology level. Also, we…
We study the entropy-corrected version of the holographic dark energy (HDE) model in the framework of modified FRW cosmology. We consider a non-flat universe filled with an interacting viscous entropy-corrected HDE (ECHDE) with dark matter. We also include the case of variable gravitational constant G in our model. We obtain the equation of state and the deceleration parameters of the interacting viscous ECHDE. Moreover, we reconstruct the potential and the dynamics of the quintessence, tachyon, K-essence and dilaton scalar field models according to the evolutionary behavior of the interacting…
In this work a new law of varying deceleration parameter of third degree have been proposed. The solutions of the modified field equations have been derived under the newly proposed law of the deceleration parameter. Model exhibits the Big-bang singularity at cosmic time ($t=0$) and shows Big Rip at ($t=n$) then it re-enter the phase of initial singularity at $t=2n$ and ends its cyclic behavior at $t=3n$. The evolution of the physical and dynamical parameters of the Universe have been studied and the graphical representation has also been shown. Further $Om(z)$ diagnostic parameter and the ene…
We investigate the validity of the generalized second law of gravitational thermodynamics on the apparent and event horizons in a non-flat FRW universe containing the interacting dark energy with dark matter. We show that for the dynamical apparent horizon, the generalized second law is always satisfied throughout the history of the universe for any spatial curvature and it is independent of the equation of state parameter of the interacting dark energy model. Whereas for the cosmological event horizon, the validity of the generalized second law depends on the equation of state parameter of th…
We derive the renormalized nonequilibrium equations of motion for a scalar field and its quantum back reaction in a conformally flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe. We use a fully covariant formalism proposed by us recently for handling numerically and analytically nonequilibrium dynamics in one-loop approximation. The system is assumed to be in a conformal vacuum state initially. We use dimensional regularization; we find that the counter terms can be chosen independent of the initial conditions though the divergent leading order graphs do depend on them.
Several dark energy models on the brane are investigated. They are compared with corresponding theories in the frame of 4d Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmology. To constrain the parameters of the models considered, recent observational data, including SNIa apparent magnitude measurements, baryon acoustic oscillation results, Hubble parameter evolution data and matter density perturbations are used. Explicit formulas of the so-called {\it state-finder} parameters in teleparallel theories are obtained that could be useful to test these models and to establish a link between Loop Quantum Cosmolog…
We study the time development of strongly coupled ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang Mills (SYM) theory on cosmological Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) backgrounds via the AdS/CFT correspondence. We implement the cosmological background as a boundary metric fulfilling the Friedmann equation with a four-dimensional cosmological constant and a dark radiation term. We analyze the dual bulk solution of the type IIB supergravity and find that the time-dependence of the FRW background strongly influences the dynamical properties of the SYM theory. We in particular find a phase transition between a co…
The closed, k=1, FRW model coupled to a massless scalar field is investigated in the framework of loop quantum cosmology using analytical and numerical methods. As in the k=0 case, the scalar field can be again used as emergent time to construct the physical Hilbert space and introduce Dirac observables. The resulting framework is then used to address a major challenge of quantum cosmology: resolving the big-bang singularity while retaining agreement with general relativity at large scales. It is shown that the framework fulfills this task. In particular, for states which are semi-classical at…
We study effects of noncommutativity on the phase space generated by a non-minimal scalar field which is conformally coupled to the background curvature in an isotropic and homogeneous FRW cosmology. These effects are considered in two cases, when the potential of scalar field has zero and nonzero constant values. The investigation is carried out by means of a comparative detailed analysis of mathematical features of the evolution of universe and the most probable universe wave functions in classically commutative and noncommutative frames and quantum counterparts. The influence of noncommutat…
A special model of a massless vector-field is presented, which has an extra modified-gravity-type interaction term in the action. The cosmology of the model is studied with standard noninteracting relativistic matter added. It is found that this cosmology can have an early phase where the vector-field starts to compensate a (Planck-scale) cosmological constant and a late Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) phase where the relativistic-matter energy density dominates the dynamic vacuum energy density.
The Fock quantization of free fields propagating in cosmological backgrounds is in general not unambiguously defined due to the non-stationarity of the spacetime. For the case of a scalar field in cosmological scenarios it is known that the criterion of unitary implementation of the dynamics serves to remove the ambiguity in the choice of Fock representation (up to unitary equivalence). Here, applying the same type of arguments and methods previously used for the scalar field case, we discuss the issue of the uniqueness of the Fock quantization of the Dirac field in the closed FRW spacetime pr…
We propose a general approach for the construction of modified gravity which is invariant under foliation-preserving diffeomorphisms. Special attention is paid to the formulation of modified $F(R)$ Hořava-Lifshitz gravity (FRHL), whose Hamiltonian structure is studied. It is demonstrated that the spatially-flat FRW equations of FRHL are consistent with the constraint equations. The analysis of de Sitter solutions for several versions of FRHL indicates that the unification of the early-time inflation with the late-time acceleration is possible. It is shown that a special choice of parameters fo…
In this work, first, we study a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker Universe with two scalar fields but only one potential term, which can be thought as a simple quintessence plus a K-essence model. Employing the Hamiltonian formalism we are able to obtain the classical and quantum solutions. The second model studied, is also a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker Universe with two scalar fields, with the difference that the two potentials are considered as well as the standard kinetic energy and the mixed term (chiral field approach). Regarding this second model, it is shown that setting to zero the c…
Six-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity (with a linear Gauss-Bonnet term) is investigated. This theory is inspired by basic features of results coming from string and M-theory. Dynamical compactification is carried out and it is seen that a four-dimensional accelerating FRW universe is recovered, when the two-dimensional internal space radius shrinks. A non-perturbative structure of the corresponding theory is identified which has either three or one stable fixed points, depending on the Gauss-Bonnet coupling being positive or negative. A much richer structure than in the case of the per…
This thesis is devoted to studying two important aspects of braneworld physics: their cosmology and their holography. We examine the Einstein equations induced on a general $(n-2)$-brane of arbitrary tension, embedded in some $n$-dimensional bulk. The brane energy-momentum tensor enters these equations both linearly and quadratically. From the point of view of a homogeneous and isotropic brane we see quadratic deviations from the FRW equations of the standard cosmology. There is also a contribution from a bulk Weyl tensor. We study this in detail when the bulk is AdS-Schwarzschild or Reissner-…
We discuss a modified form of gravity implying that the action contains a power αof the scalar curvature. Coupling with the cosmic fluid is assumed. As equation of state for the fluid, we take the simplest version where the pressure is proportional to the density. Based upon a natural ansatz for the time variation of the scale factor, we show that the equations of motion are satisfied for general α. Also the condition of conservation of energy and momentum is satisfied. Moreover, we investigate the case where the fluid is allowed to possess a bulk viscosity, and find the noteworthy fact that c…
Classical string cosmology consists of two branches related to each other by scale-factor duality: a super-inflation branch and a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) branch. Curvature and string coupling singularity separates the two branches, hence posing `graceful exit problem' to super-inflationary string cosmology. In an exactly soluble two-dimensional compactification model it is shown that quantum back reaction retards curvature and string coupling growth and connects the super-inflation branch to the FRW branch without encountering a singularity. This may offer an attractive solution to th…
The semiclassical corrections to the Cardy-Verlinde entropy of a five-dimensional Schwarzschild de-Sitter black hole (SdS_5) are explicitly evaluated. These corrections are considered within the context of KKW analysis and arise as a result of the self-gravitation effect. In addition, a four-dimensional spacelike brane is considered as the boundary of the SdS_5 bulk background. It is already known that the induced geometry of the brane is exactly given by that of a radiation-dominated FRW universe. By exploiting the CFT/FRW-cosmology relation, we derive the self-gravitational corrections to th…
The path integral is calculated for the statistical sum of the microcanonical ensemble in a generic time-parametrization invariant gravitational model with the Friedman-Robertson-Walker (FRW) metric. This represents the first example of a systematic calculation of the Faddeev-Popov gauge-fixed path integral in the minisuperspace sector of quantum cosmology. The gauge fixing procedure, together with gauging out local diffeomorphisms, also handles the residual symmetries associated with the conformal Killing vector of the FRW metric and incorporates the Batalin-Vilkovisky quantization technique …
We present exact solutions to Vasiliev's bosonic higher spin gravity equations in four dimensions with positive and negative cosmological constant that admit an interpretation in terms of domain walls, quasi-instantons and Friedman-Robertson-Walker (FRW) backgrounds. Their isometry algebras are infinite dimensional higher-spin extensions of spacetime isometries generated by six Killing vectors. The solutions presented are obtained by using a method of holomorphic factorization in noncommutative twistor space and gauge functions. In interpreting the solutions in terms of Fronsdal-type fields in…
In an open Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) space background, we study the classical and quantum cosmological models in the framework of the recently proposed nonlinear massive gravity theory. Although the constraints which are present in this theory prevent it from admitting the flat and closed FRW models as its cosmological solutions, for the open FRW universe, it is not the case. We have shown that, either in the absence of matter or in the presence of a perfect fluid, the classical field equations of such a theory adopt physical solutions for the open FRW model, in which the mass term show…
We consider the recently proposed non-relativistic Hořava-Lifshitz four-dimensional theory of gravity. We study a particular limit of the theory which admits flat Minkowski vacuum and we discuss thoroughly the quadratic fluctuations around it. We find that there are two propagating polarizations of the metric. We then explicitly construct a spherically symmetric, asymptotically flat, black hole solution that represents the analog of the Schwarzschild solution of GR. We show that this theory has the same Newtonian and post-Newtonian limits as GR and thus, it passes the classical tests. We also …
We study field equations for a weak anisotropic model on the tangent Lorentz bundle $TM$ of a spacetime manifold. A geometrical extension of General Relativity (GR) is considered by introducing the concept of local anisotropy, i.e. a direct dependence of geometrical quantities on observer $4-$velocity. In this approach, we consider a metric on $TM$ as the sum of an h-Riemannian metric structure and a weak anisotropic perturbation, field equations with extra terms are obtained for this model. As well, extended Raychaudhuri equations are studied in the framework of Finsler-like extensions. Canon…
We follow approach of induced matter theory for 5D vacuum BD, introduce induced matter and potential in 4D hypersurfaces, and employ generalized FRW type solution. We confine ourselves to scalar field and scale factors be functions of the time. This makes the induced potential, by its definition, vanishes. When the scale factor of fifth dimension and scalar field are not constants, 5D eqs for any geometry admit a power law relation between scalar field and scale factor of fifth dimension. Hence the procedure exhibits that 5D vacuum FRW like eqs are equivalent, in general, to corresponding 4D v…
The basic idea of the LQC applies to every spatially homogeneous cosmological model, however only the spatially flat (so called $k=0$) case has been understood in detail in the literature thus far. In the closed (so called: k=1) case certain technical difficulties have been the obstacle that stopped the development. In this work the difficulties are overcome, and a new LQC model of the spatially closed, homogeneous, isotropic universe is constructed. The topology of the spacelike section of the universe is assumed to be that of SU(2) or SO(3). Surprisingly, according to the results achieved in…
The field equations in FRW background for the so called C-theories are presented and investigated. In these theories the usual Ricci scalar is substituted with $f(\mathcal{R})$ where $\mathcal{R}$ is a Ricci scalar related to a conformally scaled metric $\hat{g}_{μν} = \mathcal{C}(\mathcal{R})g_{μν}$, where the conformal factor itself depends on $\mathcal{R}$. It is shown that homogeneous perturbations of this Ricci scalar around general relativity FRW background of a large class of these theories are either inconsistent or unstable.
Following arXiv:2012.07351 [hep-th], we study quantum extremal surfaces in various families of cosmologies with Big-Crunch singularities, by extremizing the generalized entropy in 2-dimensional backgrounds which can be thought of as arising from dimensional reduction. Focussing first on the isotropic $AdS$ Kasner case, introducing a spatial regulator enables relating the locations in time of the quantum extremal surface and the observer. This shows that the quantum extremal surface lags behind the observer location. A potential island-like region, upon analysing more closely near the island bo…
We study the relationship between static p-brane solitons and cosmological solutions of string theory or M-theory. We discuss two different ways in which extremal p-branes can be generalised to non-extremal ones, and show how wide classes of recently discussed cosmological models can be mapped into non-extremal p-brane solutions of one of these two kinds. We also extend previous discussions of cosmological solutions to include some that make use of cosmological-type terms in the effective action that can arise from the generalised dimensional reduction of string theory or M-theory.
We provide a detailed description for power-law scaling FRW cosmological models in Brans-Dicke theory dominated by two interacting fluid components during the expansion of the universe.
We investigate effects of noncommutativity of phase space generated by two scalar fields conformally coupled to curvature in FRW cosmology. We restrict deformation of minisuperspace to noncommutativity between scalar fields and between their canonical conjugate momenta. The investigation is carried out by means of comparative analysis of mathematical properties of time evolution of variables in classical model and wave function of universe in quantum level. We find that impose of noncommutativity causes more ability in tuning time solutions of scalar fields and hence, has important implication…
Partial reduction is a Randall-Sundrum reduction for only part of the AdS region between finite tension brane and zero tension brane. This is interesting in AdS/BCFT where the AdS bulk contains a defect brane. We employ partial reduction for a AdS bulk with a brane evolving as a $2d$ Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmology and demonstrate the equivalence between defect extremal surface and island formula for a large subregion fine grained entropy in boundary CFT. We then move to higher dimensions and demonstrate the existence of $4d$ massless graviton on AdS$_4$ brane in partial reduction. …
We propose the most general modified first-order Hořava-Lifshitz (HL) gravity, whose action does not contain time derivatives higher than the second order. The Hamiltonian structure of this theory is studied in all the details in the case of the spatially-flat FRW space-time, demonstrating many of the features of the general theory. It is shown that, with some plausible assumptions, including the projectability of the lapse function, this model is consistent. As a large class of such theories, the modified HL $F(R)$ gravity is introduced. The study of its ultraviolet properties shows that its …
We consider the two scalar field cosmology in a FRW spatially flat spacetime where the scalar fields interact both in the kinetic part and the potential. We apply the Noether point symmetries in order to define the interaction of the scalar fields. We use the point symmetries in order to write the field equations in the normal coordinates and we find that the Lagrangian of the field equations which admits at least three Noether point symmetries describes linear Newtonian systems. Furthermore, by using the corresponding conservation laws we find exact solutions of the field equations. Finally, …
We study the quantum cosmology of an empty (4+1)-dimensional Kaluza-Klein cosmology with a negative cosmological constant and a FRW type metric with two scale factors, one for 4-D universe and the other for one compact extra dimension. By assuming the noncommutativity in the corresponding mini-superspace we suggest a solution for the Hierarchy problem, at the level of Wheeler-DeWitt equation.
We extend the direct quantum approach of the standard FRW cosmology from 4D to 5D and obtain a Hamiltonian formulation for a wave-like 5D FRW cosmology. Using a late-time approximation we isolate out a y-part from the full wave function of the 5D Universe. Then we find that the compactness of the fifth dimension y yields a quantized spectrum for the momentum $P_{5}$ along the fifth dimension, and we show that the whole space-part of the wave function of the 5D Universe satisfies a two-dimensional Schrödinger equation.
We study a scalar-tensor cosmological model where the Einstein tensor is non-minimally coupled to the free scalar field dynamics. Using FRW metric, we investigate the behavior of scale factor for vacuum, matter and dark energy dominated eras. Especially, we focus on the inflationary behavior at early universe. Moreover, we study the perturbation analysis of this model in order to confront the inflation under consideration with the observational results.
If string theory controls physics at the string scale, the dynamics of the early universe before the GUT era will be governed by the low-energy string equations of motion. Studying these equations for FRW spacetimes, we find that depending on the initial conditions when the stringy era starts, and on the time when it ends, there are a wide variety of qualitatively distinct types of evolution. We classify these, and present the general solution to the equations of motion.
