We present a gauge invariant argument that a nonlocal measure of second-order metric and matter perturbations dominate that of linear fluctuations in its effect on the gravitational field in 'slow-rolling' spacetimes.
We consider the classical wave equation with a thermal and Starobinsky-Vilenkin noise which in a slow-roll and long wave approximation describes the quantum fluctuations of the graviton-inflaton system in an expanding metric. We investigate the resulting consistent stochastic Einstein-Klein-Gordon system in the slow-roll regime. We show in some models that the slow-roll requirements (of the negligence of $\partial_{t}^{2}ϕ$) can be satisfied in the probabilistic sense for the stochastic system with quantum and thermal noise for arbitrarily large time and an infinite range of fields. We calcula…
The slow-roll field equations for the case of non-minimally coupled scalar fields are obtained in two ways: first using the direct generalization of slow-roll conditions in the minimal coupling case to non-minimal one; and, second, conformal transforming the slow-roll field equations in the Einstein frame to the Jordan frame and then applying the generalized slow-roll conditions. We compare the difference of two methods in calculation of the spectral index, $n_s$, for a model example. The second method seems to be more precise.
The slow roll approximation is studied for cosmological models in Hyperextended Scalar-Tensor Theories of Gravity. A procedure to obtain slow roll solutions in non-minimally coupled gravity is outlined and some examples are provided. An integral condition over the functional form of the non-minimal coupling is imposed in order to obtain intermediate inflationary behavior.
A large set of complex path solutions for the Hartle Hawking semi-classical wave function are found for an inflationary universe in the "slow roll" regime. The implication of these for the semi-classical evolution of the universe is also studied.
The slow-roll approximation is the usual starting point to study the constraints imposed on the inflaton potential parameters by the observational data. We show that, for a potential exhibiting at least two extrema and giving rise to a limited inflationary period, slow-roll does not have to be taken as an additional hypothesis and is in fact forced by the constraints on the number of e-foldings.
The framework of a kind of noncanonical warm inflation is introduced, and the dynamical equations of this scenario are presented. We propose the slow roll approximations and give some redefining slow roll parameters in this scenario which remain dimensionless. Performing systemic stability analysis, we calculate the slow roll conditions to guarantee that slow roll approximations hold. The slow roll conditions suggest slow roll inflation in general noncanonical warm inflationary scenario can still exist, and in addition, the slow roll approximations are more easily to be satisfied. Then, a conc…
We study power law inflation in the context of non-minimally coupled to the scalar curvature. We analyze the inflationary solutions under an exact analysis and also in the slow roll approximation. In both solutions, we consider the recent data from Planck and BICEP2 data to constraint the parameter in our model. We find that the slow roll approximation is disfavored in the presence of non-minimal couplings during the power law expansion of the Universe.
It is shown that spatially homogeneous solutions of the Einstein equations coupled to a nonlinear scalar field and other matter exhibit accelerated expansion at late times for a wide variety of potentials $V$. These potentials are strictly positive but tend to zero at infinity. They satisfy restrictions on $V'/V$ and $V''/V'$ related to the slow-roll approximation. These results generalize Wald's theorem for spacetimes with positive cosmological constant to those with accelerated expansion driven by potentials belonging to a large class.
We present an study from PLANCK2013+WP+BAO:$Λ$CDM+$r$+$α_s$ data, where 49 slow roll inflationary potentials are tested, showing that the theoretical value of the running provided by 48 of these potentials has a deviation to the expected observational value larger than $1.6σ$, and its modulus is smaller than the modulus of the expected observational one, what disfavours these models at 94.5 \% of Confidence Level (C.L.), concluding from these results that, inflationary cosmology may require multiple fields or a breakdown of slow roll condition. This conclusion has drastically changed with the …
Slow-roll approximations for Gauss-Bonnet inflation revisited
Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Lomonosov Moscow State University(列昂尼德·莫索科夫国立莫斯科国立大学斯滕伯格天文研究所);Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University(列昂尼德·莫索科夫国立莫斯科国立大学物理学院)
Slow roll solutions to inflationary potentials have been widely believed to be the only universal attractor. Over the last few years there has been growing interest in a new class of inflationary models known as Constant-Roll Inflation. Constant roll solutions are a generalization of "ultra-slow roll" dynamics, where the first slow roll parameter is small, but the second slow roll parameter $η$ is larger than unity. In Ultra-slow Roll Inflation, the large-$η$ solution is a dynamical transient, relaxing exponentially to the attractor de Sitter solution. In the constant roll generalization, rece…
In this paper we investigate the implications of having a varying second slow-roll index on the canonical scalar field inflationary dynamics. We shall be interested in cases that the second slow-roll can take small values and correspondingly large values, for limiting cases of the function that quantifies the variation of the second slow-roll index. As we demonstrate, this can naturally introduce a smooth transition between slow-roll and constant-roll eras. We discuss the theoretical implications of the mechanism we introduce and we use various illustrative examples in order to better understa…
We investigate the slow-roll inflation in the nonminimal derivative coupling (NDC) model with exponential, quadric, and quartic potentials. It was known that this model provides an enhanced slow-roll inflation induced by gravitationally enhanced friction even for a steep exponential potential. In the phase portrait, the inflationary attractor is described by the slow-roll equation. Introducing the autonomous form, the inflation is regarded as an emergence from the saddle point and it leaves this fixed point along the slow-roll equation. We show explicitly that if one uses the NDC with potentia…
We derive slow-roll conditions for a scalar field which is non-minimally coupled with gravity in a consistent manner and express spectral indices of scalar/tensor perturbations in terms of the slow-roll parameters. The conformal invariance of the curvature perturbation is proved without linear approximations. Rapid-roll conditions are also derived, and the relation with the slow-roll conditions is discussed.
The viability of slow-roll approximation is examined by considering the structure of phase spaces in scalar-tensor theories of gravitation and the analysis is exemplified with a nonminimally coupled scalar field to the spacetime curvature. The slow-roll field equations are obtained in the Jordan frame in two ways: first using the direct generalization of the slow-roll conditions in the minimal coupling case to nonminimal one, and second, conformal transforming the slow-roll field equations in the Einstein frame to the Jordan frame and then applying the generalized slow-roll conditions. Two inf…
Inflation predicts the generation of cosmological perturbations. Usually, the power spectra for the scalar and tensor modes are calculated with help of the slow roll approximation. In the case of power law inflation an exact result is available. We compare the predictions for the cosmic microwave background anisotropies from the slow roll approximation with the exact results from power law inflation. We find that the so-called consistency check from the slow roll approximation, $C_2^T/C_2^S \approx -6.93 n_T$, may differ considerably from the exact result.
In this work, we investigate how a smooth transition from a constant-roll to a slow-roll inflationary era may be realized, in the context of a canonical scalar field theory. We study in some detail the dynamical evolution of the cosmological system, and we investigate whether a stable attractor exists, both numerically and analytically. We also investigate the slow-roll era and as we demonstrate, partially compatibility of the resulting scalar theory, may be achieved, with the potential of the latter belonging to a class of modular inflationary potentials. The novel features of the constant-ro…
By using the relations between the slow-roll parameters and the power spectrum 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 scalar-tensor theory of gravity, and compared with the recently reconstructed E model potential. In the strong coupling limit, we show that the $…
The slow-roll approximation is an analytical approach to study dynamical properties of the inflationary universe. In this article, systematic construction of the slow-roll expansion for effective loop quantum cosmology is presented. The analysis is performed up to the fourth order in both slow-roll parameters and the parameter controlling the strength of deviation from the classical case. The expansion is performed for three types of the slow-roll parameters: Hubble slow-roll parameters, Hubble flow parameters and potential slow-roll parameters. An accuracy of the approximation is verified by …
It is often claimed that the ultra-slow-roll regime of inflation, where the dynamics of the inflaton field are friction dominated, is a non-attractor and/or transient. In this work we carry out a phase-space analysis of ultra-slow roll in an arbitrary potential, $V(ϕ)$. We show that while standard slow roll is always a dynamical attractor whenever it is a self-consistent approximation, ultra-slow roll is stable for an inflaton field rolling down a convex potential with $M_{\scriptscriptstyle{\mathrm{Pl}}} V''>|V'|$ (or for a field rolling up a concave potential with $M_{\scriptscriptstyle{\mat…
In this note we derive the slow-roll and rapid-roll conditions for the minimally and non-minimally coupled space-like vector fields. The function $f(B^{2})$ represents the non-minimal coupling effect between vector fields and gravity, the $f=0$ case is the minimal coupling case. For a clear comparison with scalar field, we define a new function $F=\pm B^{2}/12+f(B^{2})$ where $B^{2}=A_μA^μ$, $A_μ$ is the "comoving" vector field. With reference to the slow-roll and rapid-roll conditions, we find the small-field model is more suitable than the large-field model in the minimally coupled vector fi…
We study the WKB approximation beyond leading order for cosmological perturbations during inflation. To first order in the slow-roll parameters, we show that an improved WKB approximation leads to analytical results agreeing to within 0.1% with the standard slow-roll results. Moreover, the leading WKB approximation to second order in the slow-roll parameters leads to analytical predictions in qualitative agreement with those obtained by the Green's function method.
We study the stochastic formalism of inflation beyond the usual slow-roll approximation. We verify that the assumptions on which the stochastic formalism relies still hold even far from the slow-roll attractor. This includes demonstrating the validity of the separate universe approach to evolving long-wavelength scalar field perturbations beyond slow roll. We also explain that, in general, there is a gauge correction to the amplitude of the stochastic noise. This is because the amplitude is usually calculated in the spatially-flat gauge, while the number of e-folds is used as the time variable…
Natura Non Facit Saltum: An Analytical Model of Smooth Slow-Roll to Ultra-Slow-Roll Transition
Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences(中国科学院理论物理研究所);Center for Theoretical Physics of the Universe, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)(基础科学研究院宇宙理论物理中心);Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (WPI), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo(东京大学UTIAS理化学研究所);Department of Physics, Institute of Science Tokyo(东京科学大学物理学系);Department of Physics and IPAP, Yonsei University(延世大学物理学及应用物理系)
We present a complete formulation of the scalar bispectrum in the unified effective field theory (EFT) of inflation, which includes the Horndeski and beyond-Horndeski Gleyzes-Langlois-Piazza-Vernizzi classes, in terms of a set of simple one-dimensional integrals. These generalized slow-roll expressions remain valid even when slow-roll is transiently violated and encompass all configurations of the bispectrum. We show analytically that our expressions explicitly preserve the squeezed-limit consistency relation beyond slow-roll. As an example application of our results, we compute the scalar bis…
In the landscape perspective, our Universe begins with a quantum tunneling from an eternally-inflating parent vacuum, followed by a period of slow-roll inflation. We investigate the tunneling process and calculate the probability distribution for the initial conditions and for the number of e-folds of slow-roll inflation, modeling the landscape by a small-field one-dimensional random Gaussian potential. We find that such a landscape is fully consistent with observations, but the probability for future detection of spatial curvature is rather low, $P \sim 10^{-3}$.
We consider Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet (EGB) inflationary models using the effective potential approach. We present evolution equations in the slow-roll regime using the effective potential and the tensor-to-scalar ratio. The choice of the effective potential is related to an expression of the spectral index in terms of e-folding number $N_e$. The satisfaction of the slow-roll regime is mostly related to the form of the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$. The case of $r\sim1/N^2_e$ leads to a generalization of $α$-attractors inflationary parameters to Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity with exponential effectiv…
For primordial black holes (PBH) to be the dark matter in single-field inflation, the slow-roll approximation must be violated by at least ${\cal O}(1)$ in order to enhance the curvature power spectrum within the required number of efolds between CMB scales and PBH mass scales. Power spectrum predictions which rely on the inflaton remaining on the slow-roll attractor can fail dramatically leading to qualitatively incorrect conclusions in models like an inflection potential and misestimate the mass scale in a running mass model. We show that an optimized temporal evaluation of the Hubble slow-r…
Slow-roll inflation is analyzed in the context of modified gravity within the Palatini formalism. As shown in the literature, inflation in this framework requires the presence of non-traceless matter, otherwise it does not occur just as a consequence of the non-linear gravitational terms of the action. Nevertheless, by including a single scalar field that plays the role of the inflaton, slow-roll inflation can be performed in these theories, where the equations lead to an effective potential that modifies the dynamics. We obtain the general slow-roll parameters and analyze a simple model to il…
Using the nonlinear $δN$ formalism, we consider a simple exactly soluble model of multi-component slow-roll inflation in which the nonlinear curvature perturbation can be evaluated analytically.
We analyze the slow roll limit of the massive version of time-dependent Yang--Mills type matrix model. We find that this limit reproduces the one-loop non-Hermitian matrix model, describing the dilatations of the local gauge invariant composite operators in the scalar sector of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang--Mills theory. This coincidence is explained through the fact that the dialtation operator of the last can be identified with the radial time Hamiltonian. Further we explore the finite mass corrections to the slow roll action. The regular corrections in large mass expansions are coming from th…
We quantify the slow-roll corrections to primordial density perturbations arising from inflation driven by a four-dimensional scalar field with a monomial potential in a five-dimensional non-compact bulk spacetime. Although the difference between the classical brane-world solutions and standard four-dimensional solutions is large at early times, the change to the amplitude at late times of perturbations generated from quantum fluctuations is first-order in slow-roll parameters, leading to second-order slow-roll corrections to the spectral index. This confirms that the leading-order effects are…
We numerically calculate the evolution of second order cosmological perturbations for an inflationary scalar field without resorting to the slow-roll approximation or assuming large scales. In contrast to previous approaches we therefore use the full non-slow-roll source term for the second order Klein-Gordon equation which is valid on all scales. The numerical results are consistent with the ones obtained previously where slow-roll is a good approximation. We investigate the effect of localised features in the scalar field potential which break slow-roll for some portion of the evolution. The…
The conventional slow-roll approximation is broken in the so-called "ultra slow-roll" models of inflation, for which the inflaton potential is exactly (or extremely) flat. The interesting nature of (canonical) ultra slow-roll inflation is that the curvature perturbation grows on superhorizon scales, but has a scale-invariant power spectrum. We study the ultra slow-roll inflationary dynamics in the presence of non-canonical kinetic terms of the scalar field, namely ultra slow-roll G-inflation. We compute the evolution of the curvature perturbation and show that the primordial power spectrum fol…
As an extension of our previous study, we derive slow-roll conditions for multiple scalar fields which are non-minimally coupled with gravity and for generalized gravity theories of the form $f(ϕ,R)$. We provide simple formulae of the spectral indices of scalar/tensor perturbations in terms of the slow-roll parameters.
Aspects of non-linear Schrödinger-type (NLS) formulation of scalar (phantom) field cosmology on slow-roll, acceleration, WKB approximation and Big Rip singularity are presented. Slow-roll parameters for the curvature and barotropic density terms are introduced. We reexpress all slow-roll parameters, slow-roll conditions and acceleration condition in NLS form. WKB approximation in the NLS formulation is also discussed when simplifying to linear case. Most of the Schrödinger potentials in NLS formulation are very slowly-varying, hence WKB approximation is valid in the ranges. In the NLS form of …
We derive the power spectrum P_ψ(k) of the gravitational waves produced during general classes of inflation with second order corrections. Using this result, we also derive the spectrum and the spectral index in the standard slow-roll approximation with new higher order corrections.
We extend the WKB method for the computation of cosmological perturbations during inflation beyond leading order and provide the power spectra of scalar and tensor perturbations to second order in the slow-roll parameters. Our method does not require that the slow-roll parameters be constant. Although leading and next-to-leading results in the slow-roll parameters depend on the approximation technique used in the computation, we find that the inflationary theoretical predictions obtained may reach the accuracy required by planned observations. In two technical appendices, we compare our techni…
The BB-mode angular correlation power spectrum of CMB is obtained by considering the primordial gravitational waves in the squeezed vacuum state for various inflationary models and results are compared with the joint analysis of the BICEP2/Keck Array and Planck 353 GHz data. The present results may constrain several models of inflation.
Two-point correlators and self-correlators of primordial perturbations in quasi-de Sitter spacetime backgrounds are considered. For large separations two-point correlators exhibit nearly scale invariance, while for short distances self-correlators need standard renormalization. We study the deformation of two-point correlators to smoothly match the self-correlators at coincidence. The corresponding angular power spectrum is evaluated in the Sachs-Wolfe regime of low multipoles. Scale invariance is maintained, but the amplitude of $C_{\ell}$ could change in a non-trivial way.
We derive general analytic formulae for the power spectrum and spectral index of the curvature perturbation produced during inflation driven by a multi-component inflaton field, up to the second order in the slow-roll approximation. We do not assume any specific properties of the potential or the metric on the scalar field space, except for the slow-roll condition, Einstein gravity, and the absence of any permanent isocurvature modes.
We reconsider the toy-model of topological inflation, based on the R*4-modified gravity. By using its equivalence to the certain scalar-tensor gravity model in four space-time dimensions, we compute the inflaton scalar potential and investigate a possibility of inflation. We confirm the existence of the slow-roll inflation with an exit. However, the model suffers from the eta-problem that gives rise to the unacceptable value of the spectral index n_s of scalar perturbations.
We draw attention to the possibility that inflation (i.e. accelerated expansion) might continue after the end of slow roll, during a period of fast oscillations of the inflaton field ϕ. This phenomenon takes place when a mild non-convexity inequality is satisfied by the potential V(ϕ). The presence of such a period of ϕ-oscillation-driven inflation can substantially modify reheating scenarios. In some models the effect of these fast oscillations might be imprinted on the primordial perturbation spectrum at cosmological scales.
We compute the graviton one-loop correction to the expectation value of the local expansion rate in slow-roll inflation, with both slow-roll parameters finite. The calculation is based on a recent method to explicitly construct gauge-invariant observables in perturbative quantum gravity at all orders in perturbation theory, and it is particularly suited in cases of highly-symmetrical space-time backgrounds. Our analysis adds to recent calculations of that correction in de Sitter space-time and in single-field inflation with constant deceleration. In the former case a vanishing one-loop correct…
Loop corrections to observables in slow-roll inflation are found to diverge no worse than powers of the log of the scale factor, extending Weinberg's theorem to quasi-single field inflation models. Demanding perturbation theory be valid during primordial inflation leads to constraints on the effective lagrangian. This leads to some interesting constraints and coincidences on the landscape of inflationary vacua.
Inflation is often described through the dynamics of a scalar field, slow-rolling in a suitable potential. Ultimately, this inflaton must be identified as the expectation value of a quantum field, evolving in a quantum effective potential. The shape of this potential is determined by the underlying tree-level potential, dressed by quantum corrections from the scalar field itself and the metric perturbations. Following [1], we compute the effective scalar field equations and the corrected Friedmann equations to quadratic order in both scalar field, scalar metric and tensor perturbations. We ide…
We investigate the accuracy of slow-roll inflation in light of current observational constraints, which do not allow for a large deviation from scale invariance. We investigate the applicability of the first and second order slow-roll approximations for inflationary models, including those with large running of the scalar spectral index. We compare the full numerical solutions with those given by the first and second order slow-roll formulae. We find that even first order slow-roll is generally accurate; the largest deviations arise in models with large running where the error in the power spe…
We propose a new single field inflation model in which the usual slow-roll inflation is joined to a new period of slow-climb and slow-roll inflation through a short intermediate non-inflationary phase. We then show that primordial curvature perturbations can be enhanced at small scales, a sizable amount of primordial black holes (PBHs) can be produced which make up most of dark matter, the gravitational waves (GWs) induced by scalar metric perturbations that accompany with the formation of PBHs can be detectable by future GW experiments, and last but not least, our model is compatible with the…
After giving a pedagogical review we clarify that the stochastic approach to inflation is generically reliable only at zeroth order in the (geometrical) slow-roll parameter $ε_1$ if and only if $ε_2^2\ll 6/ε_1$, with the notable exception of slow-roll. This is due to the failure of the stochastic $ΔN$ formalism in its standard formulation. However, by keeping the formalism in its regime of validity, we showed that, in ultra-slow-roll, the stochastic approach to inflation reproduces the power spectrum calculated from the linear theory approach.
The slow-roll approximation to inflation is ultimately justified by the presence of inflationary attractors for the orbits of the solutions of the dynamical equations in phase space. There are many indications that the inflaton field couples nonminimally to the spacetime curvature: the existence of attractor points for inflation with nonminimal coupling is demonstrated, subject to a condition on the inflaton potential and the value of the coupling constant.
We study the growth of superhorizon modes in the curvature perturbation during an ultra-slow-roll or a large-$η$ phase in single-field inflation. In a simple toy model, we derive the two-point correlation function of the curvature perturbation and show that the requirement for causality restricts the growth rate and hence puts a lower limit on the value of $η$. The toy model is then realized by considering an inflation potential with an inflection point. Our study is useful to assessing the growth of the curvature perturbation that seeds the formation of primordial black holes.