In this paper, we reconstruct viable inflationary models by starting from spectral index and tensor-to-scalar ratio from Planck observations. We analyze three different kinds of models: scalar field theories, fluid cosmology and f(R)-modified gravity. We recover the well known R^2-inflation in Jodan frame and Einstein frame representation, the massive scalar inflaton models and two models of inhomogeneous fluid. A model of R^2-correction to Einstein's gravity plus a "cosmological constant" with an exact solution for early time acceleration is reconstructed.
The phase-integral approximation devised by Fröman and Fröman, is used for computing cosmological perturbations in the quadratic chaotic inflationary model. The phase-integral formulas for the scalar and tensor power spectra are explicitly obtained up to fifth order of the phase-integral approximation. We show that, the phase integral gives a very good approximation for the shape of the power spectra associated with scalar and tensor perturbations as well as the spectral indices. We find that the accuracy of the phase-integral approximation compares favorably with the numerical results and tho…
We discuss a model of gravity coupled to a scalar field that admits exact cosmological solutions displaying an inflationary behavior at early times and a power-law expansion at late times.
It is presumed that thermal fluctuations present during inflationary epoch can make inflaton scalar field to interact with other fields resulting in the existence of a thermal component during the inflationary period. The presence of this thermal component assists structure formation and reduces reheating dependence as in the contemporary inflationary paradigm. This is known as warm inflation. In 1990 J . D. Barrow \cite{25} considered a scenario of inflation with matter field having a phenomenological equation of state of the type $p+ρ=γρ^λ,~γ\neq 0$ and $λ$ constant. He called such inflation…
In this paper we show that the dynamics associated with slow-roll models of inflation can be investigated through a method called deformation procedure. Using the latter, we explicitly derive an expression linking two slow-roll inflationary potentials, applying the resulting framework to show how to construct an eternal inflation from chaotic inflation, or even, a natural inflation from hilltop inflation, easily.
We consider an alternative higher order gravity theory which is non-analytic in the Ricci curvature. It has power-law inflationary behaviour. This is further evidence that inflation is a general property of higher derivative gravity theories.
We contrast the possibility of inflation starting a) from the universe's inception or b) from an earlier non-inflationary state. Neither case is ideal since a) assumes quantum mechanical reasoning is straightforwardly applicable to the early universe; while case b) requires that a singularity still be present. Further, in agreement with Vachaspati and Trodden [1] case b) can only solve the horizon problem if the non-inflationary phase has equation of state $γ<4/3$.
We consider inflationary scenarios for FRLW supersymetric models with a scalar field, whose Wheeler-DeWitt equation has analytic solutions. Following previous work of the authors, we analyse the setting of the scalar field as clock, leading to an effective time dependent wave function, and a time dependent mean value of the scale factor. We study several superpotentials, which lead to an evolution that corresponds to consistent inflationary scenarios.
Making use of the primordially isocurvature fluctuations, which are generated in inflationary models with multiple scalar fields, we make a phenomenological model that predicts formation of primordial black holes which can account for the massive compact halo objects recently observed.
We give a comprehensive analysis of how scalar and tensor perturbations evolve in cosmologies with a smooth transition from power-law-like and de Sitter-like inflation to a radiation era. Analytic forms for the super-horizon and sub-horizon perturbations in the inflationary and radiation dominated eras are found.
We show explicitly how the T-model, E-model, and Hilltop inflations are obtained from the inflation models with a non-canonical kinetic term and an arbitrary potential. By this method, any attractor of observables $n_s$ and $r$ is possible. The presence of attractors poses a challenge to differentiate inflation models.
Neutron stars are perfect candidates to investigate the effects of a modified gravity theory, since the curvature effects are significant and more importantly, potentially testable. In most cases studied in the literature in the context of massive scalar-tensor theories, inflationary models were examined. The most important of scalar-tensor models is the Higgs model, which, depending on the values of the scalar field, can be approximated by different scalar potentials, one of which is the inflationary. Since it is not certain how large the values of the scalar field will be at the near vicinit…
We consider an inflationary model inspired in the low energy limit of string theory. In this model, the scale factor grows exponentially with time. A perturbation study is performed, and we show that there is a mode which displays an exponential growth in the perturbation of the scalar field.
In the framework of gravitational models obtained from the Geometric Inflation's proposal, where an infinite tower of curvature scalars are included into the action, we compute the slow-roll parameters by the Hubble slow-roll approach. We test the viability of such models as inflationary scenarios, focusing on the tensor-to-scalar ratio, $r$, and spectral scalar index, $n_s$, relation. We find that all models considered here produce inflation and, most of them coincide, some better than others, with the marginalized 95$\%$ CL region given by Planck's data collaboration.
An analysis of the decoherence of quantum fluctuations shows that production of classical adiabatic density perturbations may not take place in models of power-law inflation with power 1< p < 3. Some consequences for models of extended inflation are pointed out. In general, the condition for decoherence places new constraint on inflationary models, which does not depend on often complicated subsequent evolution.
Analysis of regular inflationary cosmological models with two torsion functions filled with scalar field with quadratic potential and ultrarelativistic matter is carried out numerically. Properties of different stages of regular inflationary cosmological solutions are studied, restrictions on admissible values of parameters and initial conditions at transition from compression to expansion are found. The structure of extremum surface in space of physical variables is investigated.
If the spatial curvature of the universe is positive, then the curvature term will always dominate at early enough times in a slow-rolling inflationary epoch. This enhances inflationary effects and hence puts limits on the possible number of e-foldings that can have occurred, independently of what happened before inflation began and in particular without regard for what may have happened in the Planck era. We use a simple multi-stage model to examine this limit as a function of the present density parameter $Ω_0$ and the epoch when inflation ends.
New exact inflationary solutions are presented in the scalar field theory, minimally coupled to gravity, with a potential term. No use is made of the slow rollover approximation. The scale factors are completely nonsingular and the transition to the deccelerating phase is smooth. Moreover, in one of these models, asymptotically one has transition to the matter dominated Universe.
For the simplest minisuperspace model based on a homogeneous, isotropic metric and a minimally coupled scalar field we derive analytic expressions for the caustic which separates Euklidean and Minkowskian region and its breakdown value $\p_*$. This value represents the prediction of the no-boundary wave function for the scalar field at the beginning of inflation. We use our results to search for inflationary models which can render the no-boundary wave function consistent with the requirement of a sufficiently long inflationary period.
We review here some recent results that show that inflationary cosmological models must contain initial singularities. We also present a new singularity theorem. The question of the initial singularity re-emerges in inflationary cosmology because inflation is known to be generically future-eternal. It is natural to ask, therefore, if inflationary models can be continued into the infinite past in a non-singular way. The results that we discuss show that the answer to the question is ``no.'' This means that we cannot use inflation as a way of avoiding the question of the birth of the Universe. W…
We study inflation in the framework of $f(T)$-gravity in the presence of a canonical scalar field. After reviewing the basic equations governing the background cosmology in $f(T)$-gravity, we turn to study the cosmological perturbations and obtain the evolutionary equations for the scalar and tensor perturbations. Solving those equations, we find the power spectra for the scalar and tensor perturbations. Then, we consider a power-law form for the $f(T)$ function in the action and examine the inflationary models with the power-law and intermediate scale factors. We see that in contrast with the…
A generalization of the canonical and non-canonical theory of inflation is introduced in which the kinetic energy term in action is written as non-local term. The inflationary universe within the framework of considering this non-locality will be studied. To investigate the effects of non-locality on the inflationary parameters we consider two well known models of inflationary scenario includes of chaotic and exponential inflation proposals. For such scenarios some important parameters include slow roll parameters, scalar and tensor power spectra, spectral indices, the tensor-to-scalar ratio a…
It has been suggested that wormholes and other non-trivial geometrical structures might have been formed during the quantum cosmological era ($t\sim 10^{-43}$s). Subsequent inflation of the universe might have enlarged these structures to macroscopic sizes. In this paper, spherical geometrical structures in an inflationary RW background are derived from the Einstein equations, using a constraint on the energy-momentum tensor which is an extension of the one expected for inflation. The possibility of dynamical wormholes and other spherical structures are explored in the framework of the solutio…
We show that homogeneous and isotropic cosmological models with radiation and scalar field have, in general, two possible chaotic exits to inflation. These models may describe the early stages of inflation. The central point of our analysis is based on the possible existence of one or two saddle-centers points in the phase space of the models.
How sensitive are the predictions of inflation to pre-inflationary conditions when the number of efolds of inflation is not too large? In an attempt to address this question, we consider a simple model where the inflationary era is preceded by an era dominated by a radiation fluid, which is coupled to the inflaton only gravitationally and which extends back to the Planck era. We show that there is a natural generalized Bunch-Davies vacuum state for perturbations to the coupled inflaton-gravity-fluid system at early times. With this choice of initial state the model predicts interesting deviati…
The phase-integral approximation devised by Fröman and Fröman, is used for computing cosmological perturbations in the power-law inflationary model. The phase-integral formulas for the scalar and tensor power spectra are explicitly obtained up to ninth-order of the phase-integral approximation. We show that, the phase-integral approximation exactly reproduces the shape of the power spectra for scalar and tensor perturbations as well as the spectral indices. We compare the accuracy of the phase-integral approximation with the results for the power spectrum obtained with the slow-roll and unifor…
We introduce the concept of inflationary twin models, that is, a class of generalized (kinetic or "K-inflation") field theories which lead exactly to the same cosmological evolution during the inflationary period as a given standard scalar field theory of inflation. The twin concept permits to introduce generalized, K-inflation theories in a controlled manner, maintaining some inflationary predictions unaltered. Further, this concept allows to extend analytical tools like the slow-roll expansion to the realm of K-inflation theories, facilitating their investigation. Twins of a standard scalar …
Starobinsky inflation and Higgs inflation in gravity, and their equivalence based on the common inflationary potential are extended to supergravity in the proper framework, where the Starobinsky and Higgs descriptions of inflation arise in two different gauges of the same supergravity model.
A two-components mixture fluid which complies with the gamma law is considered in the framework of inflation with finite temperature. The model is developed for a quartic scalar potential without symmetry breaking. The radiation energy density is assumed to be zero when inflation starts and remains below the GUT temperature during the inflationary stage. Furthermore, provides the necessary number of e-folds and sufficient radiation energy density to GUT baryogenesis can take place near the minimum energetic configuration.
A formalization of the recently introduced formalism for inflation is developed from noncompact Kaluza-Klein theory. In particular, the case for a single scalar field inflationary model is studied. We obtain that the scalar potential, which assume different representations in different frames, has a geometrical origin.
We further clarify how scalar metric perturbations are amplified in an inflationary cosmology. We first construct a simple, analytic model of an inflationary cosmology in which the expansion scale factor evolves continuously from an inflationary era to a radiation-dominated era. From this model, it is clear to see how scalar perturbations are amplified. Second, we examine the recent claims of Grishchuk, and the reply by Deruelle and Mukhanov, regarding the evolution of scalar perturbations through an abrupt transition in the equation of state of the cosmological fluid. We demonstrate that the …
We give the procedure to reconstruct the extended inflationary potentials for attractors and use the $α$ attractor and the constant-roll model as examples to show how to reconstruct the class of extended inflationary potentials in the strong coupling limit. We also derive the strong coupling condition which the coupling constant $ξ$ satisfies. The class of extended inflationary potentials has the same attractor, and the reconstructed extended inflationary potentials are consistent with the observational constraints. The existence of the attractors from extended inflationary models further chal…
Spherically symmetric gravitationally bound, oscillating scalar lumps (boson stars and oscillatons) are considered in Einstein's gravity coupled to massive scalar fields in 1+D dimensional de Sitter-type inflationary space-times. We show that due to inflation bosons stars and oscillatons lose mass through scalar radiation, but at a rate that is exponentially small when the expansion rate is slow.
In this work we shall study a possible pre-inflationary scenario for our Universe and how this might be realized by $f(R)$ gravity. Specifically, we shall introduce a scenario in which the Universe in the pre-inflationary era contracts until it reaches a minimum magnitude, and subsequently expands, slowly entering a slow-roll quasi-de Sitter inflationary era. This pre-inflationary bounce avoids the cosmic singularity, and for the eras before and after the quasi-de Sitter inflationary stage, approximately satisfies the string theory motivated scale factor duality $a(t)=a^{-1}(-t)$. We investiga…
In the framework of a flat FLRW model we derive an inflationary regime in which the scalar field, laying on the plateau of its potential, admits a linear time dependence and remains close to a constant value. The behaviour of inhomogeneous perturbations is determined on the background metric in agreement to the "slow-rolling" approximation. We show that the inhomogeneous scales which before inflation were not much greater then the physical horizon, conserve their spectrum (almost) unaltered after the de Sitter phase.
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…
We study numerically the inhomogeneous pre-big-bang inflation in a spherically symmetric space-time. We find that a large initial inhomogeneity suppresses the onset of the pre-big-bang inflation. We also find that even if the pre-big-bang inflationary stage is realized, the initial inhomogeneities are not homogenized. Namely, during the pre-big-bang inflation ``hairs''(irregularities) do not fall, in sharp contrast to the usual (potential energy dominated) inflation where initial inhomogeneity and anisotropy are damped and thus the resulting universe is less sensitive to initial conditions.
An algorithm is used to generate new solutions of the scalar field equations in homogeneous and isotropic universes. Solutions can be found for pure scalar fields with various potentials in the absence and presence of spatial curvature and other perfect fluids. A series of generalisations of the Chaplygin gas and bulk viscous cosmological solutions for inflationary universes are found. Furthermore other closed-form solutions which provide inflationary universes are presented. We also show how the Hubble slow-roll parameters can be calculated using the solution algorithm and we compare these in…
We examine some inflationary models based on modifications of gravity in the light of Planck 2015 data, such as the generalised Chaplygin inspired inflation, models based in $N=1$ supergravity and braneworld scenarios. We also show that, conversely, potentials with a very flat plateau yield a primordial spectrum similar to that of the Starobinsky model with no need to modify general relativity.
We show how to derive several families of accelerating universe solutions to an Einstein-Aether gravity theory. These solutions provide possible descriptions of inflationary behaviour in the early universe and late-time cosmological acceleration.
We study analytically and numerically the inflationary solutions for various type scalar potentials in the nonminimally coupled scalar field theory. The Hamilton-Jacobi equation is used to deal with nonlinear evolutions of inhomogeneous spacetimes and the long-wavelength approximation is employed. The constraints that lead to a sufficient inflation are found for the nonminimal coupling constant and initial conditions of the scalar field for inflation potentials. In particular, we numerically find an inflationary solution in the new inflation model of a nonminimal scalar field.
Recently, the nonperturbative quantization scheme of loop quantum gravity has been extended to the Brans-Dicke theory and the corresponding loop quantum Brans-Dicke cosmology has been derived, which provides an essential platform to explore inflationary models in this framework. In this paper, we consider two inflation models, the Starobinsky and $α$-attractor inflation whose cosmological predictions are in excellent agreement with Planck data, and study systematically their pre-inflationary dynamics as well as the slow-roll inflation. We show that for both models, the background evolution of …
In this review I consider several different issues related to inflation. I will begin with the wave function of the Universe. This issue is pretty old, but recently there were some new insights based on the theory of the self-reproducing inflationary universe. Then we will discuss stationarity of inflationary universe and the possibility to make predictions in the context of quantum cosmology using stochastic approach to inflation. Returning to more pragmatic aspects of inflationary theory, we will discuss inflationary models with $Ω< 1$. Finally, we will describe several aspects of the theory…
A simple inflationary model based on loop quantum cosmology is considered. Within this framework, we show that inflation does not necessarily erase the infor- mation prior to its onset, but that such information may leave its imprint in the energy-spectrum of the gravitational-waves generated at these earliest of times.
We present a new approximation scheme that allows us to increase the accuracy of analytical predictions of the power spectra of inflationary perturbations for two specific classes of inflationary models. Among these models are chaotic inflation with a monomial potential, power-law inflation and natural inflation (inflation at a maximum). After reviewing the established first order results we calculate the amplitudes and spectral indices for these classes of models at higher orders in the slow-roll parameters for scalar and tensorial perturbations.
In this review I briefly describe the evolution of the inflationary theory from the scenario based on the idea of supercooling and expansion in the false vacuum toward the theory of eternally expanding self-reproducing inflationary universe. I describe recent development of inflationary cosmology with Omega < 1, and then discuss some issues related to the possibility to verify inflation by comparing its predictions with observational data. I argue that it is possible to verify and disprove many particular models of inflationary cosmology, but it is very difficult to kill the basic idea of infl…
We study the spectrum of gravitational waves generated from inflation in the Randall-Sundrum braneworld. Since the inflationary gravitational waves are of quantum-mechanical origin, the initial configuration of perturbations in the bulk includes Kaluza-Klein quantum fluctuations as well as fluctuations in the zero mode. We show, however, that the initial fluctuations in Kaluza-Klein modes have no significant effect on the late time spectrum, irrespective of the energy scale of inflation and the equation of state parameter in the post-inflationary stage. This is done numerically, using the Wron…
A reformulation of inflationary model analyses appeared recently, in which inflationary observables are determined by the structure of a pole in the inflaton kinetic term rather than the shape of the inflaton potential. We comprehensively study this framework with an arbitrary order of the pole taking into account possible additional poles in the kinetic term or in the potential. Depending on the setup, the canonical potential becomes the form of hilltop or plateau models, variants of natural inflation, power-law inflation, or monomial/polynomial chaotic inflation. We demonstrate attractor beh…
We approach the cosmological inflation thought symmetries of differential equations. We consider the general inflaton field in a homogeneous Friedmann--Lema\^ıtre--Robertson--Walker spacetime and with the use of conformal transformations we are able to write the generic algebraic solution for the field equations. We put emphasis on the inflationary models and we show how we can construct new inflationary models from already known models by using symmetry transformations.
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…
We explain why it is so difficult and perhaps even impossible to increase the cosmological tensor-to-scalar perturbation ratio during the post-inflationary evolution of the universe. Nevertheless, contrary to some recent claims, tensor perturbations can be relatively large in the simplest inflationary models which do not violate any rules of modern quantum field theory.
This work is focused on the study of early time cosmology and in particular on the study of inflation. After an introduction on the standard Big Bang theory, we discuss the physics of CMB and we explain how its observations can be used to set constraints on cosmological models. We introduce inflation and we carry out its simplest realization by presenting the observables and the experimental constraints that can be set on inflationary models. The possibility of observing primordial gravitational waves (GWs) produced during inflation is discussed. We present the reasons to define a classificati…
We show how the inclusion of non-perturbative, {\em dynamical} quantum effects on the evolution of the inflaton can allow for an inflationary phase that is both consistent with cosmological constraints {\em and} avoids the problems associated with the so-called swampland conditions. In particular, for concave potentials such as those preferred by the Planck data, spinodal instabilities associated with tachyonic masses for long wavelength modes induce a second round of inflation, which in essence decouples the tree-level potential from the inflationary phase. We illustrate these points using na…
The large-scale power deficit in the cosmic microwave background fluctuations might be relevant with the physics of pre-inflation, a bounce, or a superinflationary phase preceding slow-roll inflation, which can provide a singular-free realization of inflation. We investigate the primordial perturbations from such pre-inflationary evolutions, which generally may consist of multiple phases with different background dynamics, and give a universal formula for the power spectrum of primordial perturbations in terms of the recursive Bogoliubov coefficients. We also apply our formula to corresponding…
Seemingly unrelated models of inflation that originate from different physical setups yield, in some cases, identical predictions for the currently constrained inflationary observables. In order to classify the available models, we propose to express the slow-roll parameters and the relevant observables in terms of frame and reparametrisation invariant quantities. The adopted invariant formalism makes manifest the redundancy that afflicts the current description of inflation dynamics and offers a straightforward way to identify classes of models which yield identical phenomenology. In this Let…
The ultra-slow-roll (USR) inflationary models predict large-amplitude scalar perturbations at small scales which can lead to the primordial black hole production and scalar-induced gravitational waves. In general scalar perturbations in the USR models can only be obtained using numerical method because the usual slow-roll approximation breaks. In this work, we propose an analytical approach to estimate the scalar spectrum which is consistent with the numerical result. We find that the USR inflationary models predict a peak with power-law slopes in the scalar spectrum and energy spectrum of gra…
