4,921 research outputs found
Hunting Down the Best Model of Inflation with Bayesian Evidence
We present the first calculation of the Bayesian evidence for different
prototypical single field inflationary scenarios, including representative
classes of small field and large field models. This approach allows us to
compare inflationary models in a well-defined statistical way and to determine
the current "best model of inflation". The calculation is performed numerically
by interfacing the inflationary code FieldInf with MultiNest. We find that
small field models are currently preferred, while large field models having a
self-interacting potential of power p>4 are strongly disfavoured. The class of
small field models as a whole has posterior odds of approximately 3:1 when
compared with the large field class. The methodology and results presented in
this article are an additional step toward the construction of a full numerical
pipeline to constrain the physics of the early Universe with astrophysical
observations. More accurate data (such as the Planck data) and the techniques
introduced here should allow us to identify conclusively the best inflationary
model.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, uses RevTeX. Misprint corrected, references
added. Matches published versio
Analysis of inflationary cosmological models in gauge theories of gravitation
Inflationary homogeneous isotropic cosmological models filled by scalar
fields and ultrarelativistic matter are examined in the framework of gauge
theories of gravitation. By using quadratic scalar field potential numerical
analysis of flat, open and closed models is curried out. Properties of
cosmological models are investigated in dependence on indefinite parameter of
cosmological equations and initial conditions at a bounce. Fulfilled analysis
demonstrates regular character of all cosmological models.Comment: LaTeX2e, iopart class file, 12 pages, 19 figure
Testing Two-Field Inflation
We derive semi-analytic formulae for the power spectra of two-field inflation
assuming an arbitrary potential and non-canonical kinetic terms, and we use
them both to build phenomenological intuition and to constrain classes of
two-field models using WMAP data. Using covariant formalism, we first develop a
framework for understanding the background field kinematics and introduce a
"slow-turn" approximation. Next, we find covariant expressions for the
evolution of the adiabatic/curvature and entropy/isocurvature modes, and we
discuss how the mode evolution can be inferred directly from the background
kinematics and the geometry of the field manifold. From these expressions, we
derive semi-analytic formulae for the curvature, isocurvature, and cross
spectra, and the spectral observables, all to second-order in the slow-roll and
slow-turn approximations. In tandem, we show how our covariant formalism
provides useful intuition into how the characteristics of the inflationary
Lagrangian translate into distinct features in the power spectra. In
particular, we find that key features of the power spectra can be directly read
off of the nature of the roll path, the curve the field vector rolls along with
respect to the field manifold. For example, models whose roll path makes a
sharp turn 60 e-folds before inflation ends tend to be ruled out because they
produce strong departures from scale invariance. Finally, we apply our
formalism to confront four classes of two-field models with WMAP data,
including doubly quadratic and quartic potentials and non-standard kinetic
terms, showing how whether a model is ruled out depends not only on certain
features of the inflationary Lagrangian, but also on the initial conditions.
Ultimately, models must possess the right balance of kinematical and dynamical
behaviors, which we capture in a set of functions that can be reconstructed
from spectral observables.Comment: Revised to match accepted PRD version: Improved discussion of
background kinematics and multi-field effects, added tables summarizing key
quantities and their links to observables, more detailed figures, fixed typos
in former equations (103) and (117). 49 PRD pages, 11 figure
A Toy Model for Open Inflation
The open inflation scenario based on the theory of bubble formation in the
models of a single scalar field suffered from a fatal defect. In all the
versions of this scenario known so far, the Coleman-De Luccia instantons
describing the creation of an open universe did not exist. We propose a simple
one-field model where the CDL instanton does exist and the open inflation
scenario can be realized.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, revtex, a discussion of density perturbations is
extende
Unambiguous probabilities in an eternally inflating universe
``Constants of Nature'' and cosmological parameters may in fact be variables
related to some slowly-varying fields. In models of eternal inflation, such
fields will take different values in different parts of the universe. Here I
show how one can assign probabilities to values of the ``constants'' measured
by a typical observer. This method does not suffer from ambiguities previously
discussed in the literature.Comment: 7 pages, Final version (minor changes), to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
Observational tests of inflation with a field derivative coupling to gravity
A field kinetic coupling with the Einstein tensor leads to a gravitationally
enhanced friction during inflation, by which even steep potentials with
theoretically natural model parameters can drive cosmic acceleration. In the
presence of this non-minimal derivative coupling we place observational
constraints on a number of representative inflationary models such as chaotic
inflation, inflation with exponential potentials, natural inflation, and hybrid
inflation. We show that most of the models can be made compatible with the
current observational data mainly due to the suppressed tensor-to-scalar ratio.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Inflation without Slow Roll
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 \phi . This phenomenon takes place when a
mild non-convexity inequality is satisfied by the potential V(\phi). The
presence of such a period of \phi-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.Comment: 9 pages, Revtex, psfig, 1 figure, minor modifications, references
adde
Coleman-Weinberg Potential In Good Agreement With WMAP
We briefly summarize and update a class of inflationary models from the early
eighties based on a quartic (Coleman-Weinberg) potential for a gauge singlet
scalar (inflaton) field. For vacuum energy scales comparable to the grand
unification scale, the scalar spectral index n_s=0.94-0.97, in very good
agreement with the WMAP three year results. The tensor to scalar ratio r<~0.14,
while alpha=dn/dlnk is =~-10^-3. An SO(10) version naturally explains the
observed baryon asymmetry via non-thermal leptogenesis.Comment: v1: 6 pages, 1 table. v2: minor corrections. v3: 8 pages, added some
details, comments, references and 3 figures. v4: minor corrections, published
versio
Functional Approach to Stochastic Inflation
We propose functional approach to the stochastic inflationary universe
dynamics. It is based on path integral representation of the solution to the
differential equation for the scalar field probability distribution. In the
saddle-point approximation scalar field probability distributions of various
type are derived and the statistics of the inflationary-history-dependent
functionals is developed.Comment: 20 pages, Preprint BROWN-HET-960, uses phyzz
Towards a gauge invariant volume-weighted probability measure for eternal inflation
An improved volume-weighted probability measure for eternal inflation is
proposed. For the models studied in this paper it leads to simple and
intuitively expected gauge-invariant results.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figs, few misprints corrected, comments adde
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