Open Inflation Model Research Articles

Tilted spatially nonflat inflation

We construct nonlinear inflaton potential-energy densities that describe not necessarily very slowly rolling closed and open inflation models, and compute tilted primordial spatial inhomogeneity power spectra that follow from quantum-mechanical fluctuations during inflation in these models. Earlier nonflat inflation model power spectra computations assumed an inflaton potential-energy density with a linear slope that resulted in very slow roll during inflation and untilted power spectra. These new tilted power spectra differ from those that have previously been used to study cosmological data in nonflat cosmological models.

Constraints on preinflation fluctuations in a nearly flat openΛCDMcosmology

We analyze constraints on parameters characterizing the pre-inflating universe in an open inflation model with a present slightly open $\Lambda$CDM universe. We employ an analytic model to show that for a broad class of inflation-generating effective potentials, the simple requirement that some fraction of the observed dipole moment represents a pre-inflation isocurvature fluctuation allows one to set upper and lower limits on the magnitude and wavelength scale of pre-inflation fluctuations in the inflaton field, and the curvature of the pre-inflation universe, as a function of the fraction of the total initial energy density in the inflaton field as inflation begins. We estimate that if the pre-inflation contribution to the current CMB dipole is near the upper limit set by the {\it Planck} Collaboration then the current constraints on $\Lambda$CDM cosmological parameters allow for the possibility of a significantly open $\Omega_{i} \le 0.4$ pre-inflating universe for a broad range of the fraction of the total energy in the inflaton field at the onset of inflation. This limit to $\Omega_{i}$ is even smaller if a larger dark-flow tilt is allowed.

Scalar suppression on large scales in open inflation

We consider two toy models of open inflation and investigate their ability to give a suppression of scalar power on large scales whilst also satisfying observational constraints on the spatial curvature of the universe. Qualitatively we find that both models are indeed capable of fulfilling these two requirements, but we also see that effects of the quantum tunnelling must be carefully taken into account if we wish to make quantitative predictions.

Bispectrum from open inflation

We calculate the bispectrum of primordial curvature perturbations,ζ, generated during ``open inflation.'' Inflation occurs inside abubble nucleated via quantum tunneling from the background false vacuumstate. Our universe lives inside the bubble, which can be described as a Friedmann-Lemaȋtre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) universe with negative spatial curvature, undergoing slow-roll inflation. We pay special attention to the issue of an initial state for quantum fluctuations. A ``vacuum state'' defined by a positive-frequency mode in de Sitter space charted by open coordinates is different from the Euclidean vacuum (which is equivalent to the so-called ``Bunch-Davies vacuum'' defined by a positive-frequency mode in de Sitter space charted by flat coordinates). Quantum tunneling (bubble nucleation) then modifies the initial state away from the original Euclidean vacuum. While most of the previous study on modifications of the initial quantum state introduces, by hand, an initial time at which the quantum state is modified as well as the form of the modification, an effective initial time naturally emerges and the form is fixed by quantum tunneling in open inflation models. Therefore, open inflation enables a self-consistent computation of the effect of a modified initial state on the bispectrum. We find a term which goes as ⟨ζk1ζk2ζk3⟩∝1/k12k34 in the so-called squeezed configurations, k3 << k1 ≈ k2, in agreement with the previous study on modifications of the initial state. The bispectrum in the exact folded limit, e.g., k1 = k2+k3, is also enhanced and remains finite.However, these terms are exponentially suppressed when the wavelength of ζ is smaller than the curvature radius of the universe. The leading-order bispectrum is equal to the usual one from single-field slow-roll inflation;the terms specific for open inflation arise only in the sub-leadingorder when the wavelength of ζ is smaller than the curvature radius.

Cosmic Microwave Background Anomalies in an Open Universe

We argue that the observed large-scale cosmic microwave anomalies, discovered by WMAP and confirmed by the Planck satellite, are most naturally explained in the context of a marginally open universe. Particular focus is placed on the dipole power asymmetry, via an open universe implementation of the large-scale gradient mechanism of Erickcek etal. Open inflation models, which are motivated by the string landscape and which can excite "supercurvature" perturbation modes, can explain the presence of a very-large-scale perturbation that leads to a dipole modulation of the power spectrum measured by a typical observer. We provide a specific implementation of the scenario which appears compatible with all existing constraints.

Multi-field open inflation model and multi-field dynamics in tunneling

We consider a multi-field open inflation model, in which one of the fields dominates quantum tunneling from a false vacuum while the other field governs slow-roll inflation within the bubble nucleated from false vacuum decay. We call the former the tunneling field and the latter the inflaton field. In the limit of a negligible interaction between the two fields, the false vacuum decay is described by a Coleman-De Luccia instanton. Here we take into account the coupling between the two fields and construct explicitly a multi-field instanton for a simple quartic potential model. We also solve the evolution of the scalar fields within the bubble. We find our model realizes open inflation successfully. This is the first concrete, viable model of open inflation realized with a simple potential. We then study the effect of the multi-field dynamics on the false vacuum decay, specifically on the tunneling rate. We find the tunneling rate increases in general provided that the multi-field effect can be treated perturbatively.

An open universe from valley bounce

It appears difficult to construct a simple model for an open universe based on the one bubble inflationary scenario. The reason is that one needs a large mass to avoid the tunneling via the Hawking Moss solution and a small mass for successful slow-rolling. However, Rubakov and Sibiryakov suggest that the Hawking Moss solution is not a solution for the false vacuum decay process because it does not satisfy the boundary condition. Hence, we have reconsidered the arguments for the defect of the simple polynomial model. We point out the possibility that one of the valley bounce belonging to a valley line in the functional space represents the decay process instead of the Hawking Moss solution. Under this presumption, we show an open inflation model can be constructed within the polynomial form of the potential so that the fluctuations can be reconciled with the observations.

Open inflation and the singular boundary

The singularity in the Hawking-Turok model of open inflation has some appealing properties, such as the fact that its action is integrable. Also, if one thinks of the singularity as the boundary of spacetime, then the Gibbons-Hawking term is nonvanishing and finite. Here, we consider a model where the gravitational and scalar fields are coupled to a dynamical membrane. The singular instanton can then be obtained as the limit of a family of ``no-boundary'' solutions where both the geometry and the scalar field are regular. Using this procedure, the contribution of the singularity to the Euclidean action is just 1/3 of the Gibbons-Hawking term. Unrelated to this issue, we also point out that the singularity acts as a reflecting boundary for scalar perturbations and gravity waves. Therefore, the quantization of cosmological perturbations seems to be well posed in this background.

Microwave background anisotropies in quasiopen inflation

Quasiopenness seems to be generic to multifield models of single-bubble open inflation. Instead of producing infinite open universes, these models actually produce an ensemble of very large but finite inflating islands. In this paper we study the possible constraints from CMB anisotropies on existing models of open inflation. The effect of supercurvature anisotropies combined with the quasiopenness of the inflating regions make some models incompatible with observations, and severely reduces the parameter space of others. Supernatural open inflation and the uncoupled two-field model seem to be ruled out due to these constraints for values of ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{0}\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.98.$ Others, such as the open hybrid inflation model with suitable parameters for the slow roll potential can be made compatible with observations.

The no-negative mode theorem in false vacuum decay with gravity

The so-called negative mode problem in the path integral approach to the false vacuum decay with the effect of gravity has been an unsolved problem. Several years ago, we proposed a conjecture which is to be proved in order to give a consistent solution to the negative mode problem. We called it the “no-negative mode conjecture”. In the present paper, we give a proof of this conjecture for rather general models. Recently, we also proposed the “no-supercritical supercurvature mode conjecture” that claims the absence of supercritical supercurvature modes in the one-bubble open inflation model. In the same paper, we clarified the equivalence between the “no-negative mode conjecture” and the “no-supercritical supercurvature mode conjecture”. Hence, the latter is also proved at the same time when the former is proved.

Spectrum of cosmological perturbations in the one-bubble open universe

The spectrum of cosmological perturbations in the context of the one-bubble open inflation model is discussed, taking into account fluctuations of the metric. We find that, quite generically, thin wall single field models have no supercurvature modes. However, single field models with supercurvature modes do exist. In these models the density parameter Ω becomes a random variable taking a range of values inside of each bubble. We also show that the model dependence of the continuous spectrum for both scalar and tensor-type perturbations is small as long as the kinetic energy density of the background field does not dominate the total energy density. We conclude that the spectrum of the density perturbation predicted in the single-field model of the one-bubble open inflation is rather robust. We also consider the spectrum of scalar and tensor perturbations in a model of the Hawking-Turok type, without a false vacuum.

Density parameter and the anthropic principle

In the context of open inflation, we calculate the probability distribution for the density parameter $\Omega$. A large class of two field models of open inflation do not lead to infinite open universes, but to an ensemble of inflating islands of finite size, or ``quasi-open'' universes, where the density parameter takes a range of values. Assuming we are typical observers, the models make definite predictions for the value $\Omega$ we are most likely to observe. When compared with observations, these predictions can be used to constrain the parameters of the models. We also argue that obsevers should not be surprised to find themselves living at the time when curvature is about to dominate.

New Constraint on Open Cold-Dark-Matter Models

We calculate the large-angle cross correlation between the cosmic-microwave-background temperature and the x-ray-background intensity expected in an open universe with cold dark matter (CDM) and a nearly scale-invariant spectrum of adiabatic density perturbations. Results are presented as a function of the nonrelativistic-matter density Ω0 and the x-ray bias bx for both an open universe and a flat cosmological-constant universe. Recent experimental upper limits to the amplitude of this cross correlation provide a new constraint to the Ω0-bx parameter space that open-CDM models (and the open-inflation models that produce them) must satisfy.

Cosmological consequences of string-forming open inflation models

We present a study of open inflation cosmological scenarios in which cosmic strings form between the two inflationary epochs. It is shown that in these models, strings are stretched outside the horizon due to the inflationary expansion, but must necessarily re-enter the horizon before the epoch of equal matter and radiation densities. We determine the linear power spectrum of cold dark matter perturbations in these hybrid models, finding good agreement with observations for values of {Gamma}={Omega}{sub 0}h{approximately}0.3 and comparable contributions from the active and passive sources to the cosmic microwave background. Finally, we briefly discuss other cosmological consequences of these models. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}

Open inflation with scalar-tensor gravity

The open inflation model recently proposed by Hawking and Turok is investigated in scalar-tensor gravity context. If the dilaton-like field has no potential, the instanton of our model is singular but has a finite action. The Gibbons-Hawking surface term vanishes and hence, can not be used to make $\Omega_0$ nonzero. To obtain a successful open inflation one should introduce other matter fields or a potential for the dilaton-like fields.

Quasiopen inflation

We show that a large class of two-field models of single-bubble open inflation does not lead to infinite open universes, as was previously thought, but to an ensemble of very large but finite inflating ``islands.'' The reason is that the quantum tunneling responsible for the nucleation of the bubble does not occur simultaneously along both field directions and equal-time hypersurfaces in the open universe are not synchronized with equal-density or fixed-field hypersurfaces. The most probable tunneling trajectory corresponds to a zero value of the inflaton field; large values, necessary for the second period of inflation inside the bubble, only arise as localized fluctuations. The interior of each nucleated bubble will contain an infinite number of such inflating regions of comoving size of order ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{\ensuremath{-}1},$ where \ensuremath{\gamma} is the supercurvature eigenvalue, which depends on the parameters of the model. Each one of these islands will be a quasi-open universe. Since the volume of the hyperboloid is infinite, inflating islands with all possible values of the field at their center will be realized inside of a single bubble. We may happen to live in one of those patches of comoving size $d\ensuremath{\lesssim}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{\ensuremath{-}1},$ where the universe appears to be open. In particular, we consider the ``supernatural'' model proposed by Linde and Mezhlumian. There, an approximate $U(1)$ symmetry is broken by a tunneling field in a first order phase transition, and slow-roll inflation inside the nucleated bubble is driven by the pseudo Goldstone field. We find that the excitations of the pseudo Goldstone field produced by the nucleation and subsequent expansion of the bubble place severe constraints on this model. We also discuss the coupled and uncoupled two-field models.

Open inflation models and gravitational wave anisotropies in the CMB

We study the large scale power spectrum of gravitational wave perturbations of the microwave background in the context of single-bubble open inflation models. We compute the ratio of tensor to scalar contributions to the CMB anisotropies as a function of $\Omega_0$, the spectral index $n_S$ and the tunneling parameter $2\pi GS_1/H$. We find that gravitational wave anisotropies can be very large at small values of this tunneling parameter. We also consider the contribution of supercurvature and bubble wall modes and find constraints on the parameters of open inflation models from the observed temperature anisotropies of the CMB. We show that the induced gravity and open hybrid scenarios are compatible with present observations for a reasonable range of parameters.

Classical anisotropies in models of open inflation

In the simplest model of open inflation there are two inflaton fields decoupled from each other. One of them, the tunneling field, produces a first stage of inflation which prepares the ground for the nucleation of a highly symmetric bubble. The other, a free field, drives a second period of slow-roll inflation inside the bubble. However, the second field also evolves during the first stage of inflation, which to some extent breaks the needed symmetry. We show that this generates large supercurvature anisotropies which, together with the results of Tanaka and Sasaki, rule out this class of simple models (unless, of course, {Omega}{sub 0} is sufficiently close to 1). The problem does not arise in modified models where the second field does not evolve in the first stage of inflation. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

Wall fluctuation modes and tensor CMB anisotropy in open inflation models

We calculate the spectrum of large angle cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies due to quantum fluctuations of the gravitational wave modes in one-bubble open inflation models. We find the bubble-wall fluctuation modes, which had been thought to exist discretely in previous analyses, are actually contained in the continuous spectrum of gravitational wave modes when the gravitational coupling is correctly taken into account. Then we find that the spectrum of the tensor CMB anisotropy can be decomposed into the part due to the wall fluctuation modes and that due to the usual gravitational wave modes in a way which is almost model-independent, even when the gravitational coupling is strong. We also discuss observational constraints on the model parameters. We find that an appreciable portion of the parameter space is excluded but the remaining allowable region is still wide enough to leave the one-bubble scenario viable.

Observational Constraints on Open Inflation Models [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 4704 (1996)

Observational Constraints on Open Inflation Models [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 4704 (1996)