Power-law Inflation Research Articles

Power law inflation with anisotropic fluid in Lyra’s manifold

Field equations of the locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type-I metric with anisotropic fluid are constructed within the framework of Lyra’s manifold. Power-law volumetric expansion is used to obtain exact solutions of the models for constant and time-dependent displacement field. We discuss the asymptotic behaviors of the derived models, anisotropic behavior of the fluid, expansion parameter, and the evolution of the model with the age of the universe.

Bianchi I cosmology in the presence of a causally regularized viscous fluid

We analyze the dynamics of a Bianchi I cosmology in the presence of a viscous fluid, causally regularized according to the Lichnerowicz approach. We show how the effect induced by shear viscosity is still able to produce a matter creation phenomenon, meaning that also in the regularized theory we address, the Universe is emerging from a singularity with a vanishing energy density value. We discuss the structure of the singularity in the isotropic limit, when bulk viscosity is the only retained contribution. We see that, as far as viscosity is not a dominant effect, the dynamics of the isotropic Universe possesses the usual non-viscous power-law behaviour but in correspondence to an effective equation of state, depending on the bulk viscosity coefficient. Finally, we show that, in the limit of a strong non-thermodynamical equilibrium of the Universe mimicked by a dominant contribution of the effective viscous pressure, a power-law inflation behaviour of the Universe appears, the cosmological horizons are removed and a significant amount of entropy is produced.

Inflationary cosmology in unimodular F(T) gravity

We investigate the inflationary realization in the context of unimodular F(T) gravity, which is based on the F(T) modification of teleparallel gravity, in which one imposes the unimodular condition through the use of Lagrange multipliers. We develop the general reconstruction procedure of the F(T) form that can give rise to a given scale-factor evolution, and then we apply it in the inflationary regime. We extract the Hubble slow-roll parameters that allow us to calculate various inflation-related observables, such as the scalar spectral index and its running, the tensor-to-scalar ratio, and the tensor spectral index. Then, we examine the particular cases of de Sitter and power-law inflation, of Starobinsky inflation, as well as inflation in a specific model of unimodular F(T) gravity. As we show, in all cases the predictions of our scenarios are in a very good agreement with Planck observational data. Finally, inflation in unimodular F(T) gravity has the additional advantage that it always allows for a graceful exit for specific regions of the model parameters.

Tachyon inflation with steep potentials

Within the framework of tachyon inflation, we consider different steep potentials and check their viability in light of the Planck 2015 data. We see that in this scenario, the inverse power-law potential $V(\phi)=V_{0}(\phi/\phi_{0})^{-n}$ with $n=2$ leads to the power-law inflation with the scale factor $a(t)\propto t^{q}$ where $q>1$, while with $n<2$, it gives rise to the intermediate inflation with the scale factor $a(t)\propto\exp\left(At^{f}\right)$ where $A>0$ and $0<f<1$. We find that, although the inverse power-law potential with $n\leq 2$ is completely ruled out by the Planck 2015 data, the result of this potential for $n>2$ can be compatible with the 95\% CL region of Planck 2015 TT, TE, EE+lowP data. We further conclude that the exponential potential $V(\phi)=V_{0}e^{-\phi/\phi_{0}}$, the inverse $\cosh$ potential $V(\phi)=V_{0}/\cosh(\phi/\phi_{0})$, and the mutated exponential potential $V(\phi)=V_{0}\left[1+(n-1)^{-(n-1)}(\phi/\phi_{0})^{n}\right]e^{-\phi/\phi_{0}}$ with $n=4$, can be consistent with the 95\% CL region of Planck 2015 TT, TE, EE+lowP data. Moreover, using the $r-n_s$ constraints on the model parameters, we also estimate the running of the scalar spectral index $dn_{s}/d\ln k$ and the local non-Gaussianity parameter $f_{{\rm NL}}^{{\rm local}}$. We find that the lower and upper bounds evaluated for these observables are compatible with the Planck 2015 results.

Dynamics of warm power-law plateau inflation with a generalized inflaton decay rate: predictions and constraints after Planck 2015

In the present work, we study the consequences of considering a new family of single-field inflation models, called power-law plateau inflation, in the warm inflation framework. We consider the inflationary expansion is driven by a standard scalar field with a decay ratio Gamma having a generic power-law dependence with the scalar field phi and the temperature of the thermal bath T given by Gamma (phi ,T)=C_{phi }frac{T^a}{phi ^{a-1}}. Assuming that our model evolves according to the strong dissipative regime, we study the background and perturbative dynamics, obtaining the most relevant inflationary observable as the scalar power spectrum, the scalar spectral index and its running and the tensor-to-scalar ratio. The free parameters characterizing our model are constrained by considering the essential condition for warm inflation, the conditions for the model evolves according to the strong dissipative regime and the 2015 Planck results through the n_mathrm{s}–r plane. For completeness, we study the predictions in the n_mathrm{s}–mathrm{d}n_mathrm{s}/mathrm{d}ln k plane. The model is consistent with a strong dissipative dynamics and predicts values for the tensor-to-scalar ratio and for the running of the scalar spectral index consistent with current bounds imposed by Planck and we conclude that the model is viable.

Anisotropic power-law inflation in a two-scalar-field model with a mixed kinetic term

We examine whether an extended scenario of a two-scalar-field model, in which a mixed kinetic term of canonical and phantom scalar fields is involved, admits the Bianchi type I metric, which is homogeneous but anisotropic spacetime, as its power-law solutions. Then, we analyze the stability of the anisotropic power-law solutions to see whether these solutions respect the cosmic no-hair conjecture or not during the inflationary phase. In addition, we will also investigate a special scenario, where the pure kinetic terms of canonical and phantom fields disappear altogether in field equations, to test again the validity of cosmic no-hair conjecture. As a result, the cosmic no-hair conjecture always holds in both these scenarios due to the instability of the corresponding anisotropic inflationary solutions.

Inflation model selection meets dark radiation

We investigate how inflation model selection is affected by the presence of additional free-streaming relativistic degrees of freedom, i.e. dark radiation. We perform a full Bayesian analysis of both inflation parameters and cosmological parameters taking reheating into account self-consistently. We compute the Bayesian evidence for a few representative inflation scenarios in both the standard ΛCDM model and an extension including dark radiation parametrised by its effective number of relativistic species Neff. Using a minimal dataset (Planck low-ℓ polarisation, temperature power spectrum and lensing reconstruction), we find that the observational status of most inflationary models is unchanged. The exceptions are potentials such as power-law inflation that predict large values for the scalar spectral index that can only be realised when Neff is allowed to vary. Adding baryon acoustic oscillations data and the B-mode data from BICEP2/Keck makes power-law inflation disfavoured, while adding local measurements of the Hubble constant H0 makes power-law inflation slightly favoured compared to the best single-field plateau potentials. This illustrates how the dark radiation solution to the H0 tension would have deep consequences for inflation model selection.

Cosmology in nonlinear multidimensional gravity and the Casimir effect

We study the possible cosmological models in Kaluza-Klein-type multidimensional gravity with a curvature-nonlinear Lagrangian and a spherical extra space, taking into account the Casimir energy. First, we find a minimum of the effective potential of extra dimensions, leading to a physically reasonable value of the effective cosmological constant in our 4D space-time. In this model, the huge Casimir energy density is compensated by a fine-tuned contribution of the curvature-nonlinear terms in the original action. Second, we present a viable model with slowly evolving extra dimensions and power-law inflation in our space-time. In both models, the results formulated in Einstein and Jordan frames are compared.

A comment on power-law inflation with a dark radiation component

Tram et al. 2016 recently pointed out in [1] that power-law inflation in presence of a dark radiation component may relieve the 3.3 σ tension which exists within standard ΛCDM between the determination of the local value of the Hubble constant by Riess et al. (2016) [2] and the value derived from CMB anisotropy data [3] by the Planck collaboration. In this comment, we simply point out that this interesting proposal does not help in solving the σ8 tension between the Planck data and, e.g., the weak lensing measurements. Moreover, when the latest constraints on the reionization optical depth obtained from Planck HFI data [4] are included in the analysis, the H0 tension reappears and this scenario looses appeal.

On nonlinear multidimensional gravity and the Casimir effect

We study the possible cosmological models in Kaluza-Klein-type multidimensional gravity with a curvature-nonlinear Lagrangian and a spherical extra space, taking into account the Casimir energy. First, we find a minimum of the effective potential of extra dimensions, leading to a physically reasonable value of the effective cosmological constant in our 4D space-time. In this model, the huge Casimir energy density is compensated by a fine-tuned contribution of the curvature-nonlinear terms in the original action. Second, we present a viable model with slowly evolving extra dimensions and power-law inflation in our space-time. In both models, the results formulated in Einstein and Jordan frames are compared.

New perturbative method for analytical solutions in single-field models of inflation

We propose a new parametrization of the background equations of motion corresponding to (canonical) single-field models of inflation, which allows a better understanding of the general properties of the solutions and of the corresponding predictions in the inflationary observables. Based on the tools of dynamical systems, the method suggests that inflation comes in two flavors: power-law and de Sitter. Power-law inflation seems to occur for a restricted type of potentials, whereas de Sitter inflation has a much broader applicability. We also show a general perturbative method, by means of series expansion, to solve the new equations of motion around the critical point of the de Sitter type, and how the method can be used for arbitrary models of de Sitter inflation. It is then argued that for the latter there are two general classes of inflationary solutions, given in terms of the behavior of the tensor-to-scalar ratio as a function of the number $N$ of $e$-folds before the end of inflation: $r \sim N^{-1}$ (Class I), or $r \sim N^{-2}$ (Class II). We give some examples of the two classes in terms of known scalar field potentials, and compare their general predictions with constraints obtained from observations.

Gauge invariant fluctuations of the metric during inflation from a new scalar-tensor Weyl-integrable gravity model

We investigate gauge invariant scalar fluctuations of the metric during inflation in a non-perturbative formalism in the framework of a recently introduced scalar-tensor theory of gravity formulated on a Weyl-Integrable geometry. We found that the Weyl scalar field can play the role of the inflaton field in this theory. As an application we study the case of a power law inflation. In this case the quasi-scale invariance of the spectrum for scalar fluctuations of the metric is achieved for determined values of the $\omega$ parameter of the scalar-tensor theory. In our formalism the physical inflaton field has a geometrical origin.

Realization of power law inflation & variants via variation of the strong coupling constant

We present a model of power law inflation generated by variation of the strong coupling constant. We then extend the model to two varying coupling constants which leads to a potential consisting of a linear combination of exponential terms. Some variants of the latter may be self-consistent and can accommodate the experimental data of the Planck 2015 and other recent experiments.

Anisotropic inflation in Gauss-Bonnet gravity

We study anisotropic inflation with Gauss-Bonnet correction in presence of a massless vector field. In this scenario, exact anisotropic power-law inflation is realized when the inflaton potential, gauge coupling function and the Gauss-Bonnet coupling are exponential functions. We show that anisotropy becomes proportional to two slow-roll parameters of the theory and hence gets enhanced in presence of quadratic curvature corrections. The stability analysis reveals that anisotropic power-law solutions remain stable over a substantially large parameter region.

Generalized pole inflation: Hilltop, natural, and chaotic inflationary attractors

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 behaviors of these models and compute corrections from the additional poles to the inflationary observables.

The hidden flat like universe II

In a recent work, a particular class of $f(T)$ gravity, where $T$ is the teleparallel torsion scalar, has been derived. This class has been identified by flat-like universe (FLU) assumptions \cite{HN15}. The model is consistent with the early cosmic inflation epoch. A quintessence potential has been constructed from the FLU $f(T)$-gravity. We show that the first order potential of the induced quintessence is a quasi inverse power law inflation with an additional constant providing an end of the inflation with no need to an extra mechanism. At $e$-folds $N_{*}= 55$ before the end of the inflation, this type of potential can perform both $E$ and $B$ modes of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization pattern.

Approach to exact solutions of cosmological perturbations: Tachyon field inflation

An inflationary universe scenario in the context of tachyon field is studied. This study is done from an ansantz for the effective potential of cosmological perturbations $U(\eta)$. We describe in great detail the analytical solutions of the scalar and tensor perturbations for two different ansantz in the effective potential of cosmological perturbations; the Easther's model and an effective potential similar to power law inflation. Also we find from the background equations that the effective tachyonic potential $V(\varphi)$, in both models satisfy the properties of a tachyonic potential. We consider the recent data from the Planck data to constrain the parameters in our effective potential of cosmological perturbations.

Suppressing the primordial tensor amplitude without changing the scalar sector in quadratic curvature gravity

We address the question of how one can modify the inflationary tensor spectrum without changing at all the successful predictions on the curvature perturbation. We show that this is indeed possible, and determine the two quadratic curvature corrections that are free from instabilities and affect only the tensor sector at the level of linear cosmological perturbations. Both of the two corrections can reduce the tensor amplitude, though one of them generates large non-Gaussianity of the curvature perturbation. It turns out that the other one corresponds to so-called Lorentz-violating Weyl gravity. In this latter case one can obtain as small as 65% of the standard tensor amplitude. Utilizing this effect we demonstrate that even power-law inflation can be within the 2$\sigma$ contour of the Planck results.

Can backreaction prevent eternal inflation?

We study the effects which the back-reaction of long wavelength fluctuations exert on stochastic inflation. In the cases of power-law and Starobinsky inflation these effects are too weak to terminate the stochastic growth of the inflaton field. However, in the case of the cyclic Ekpyrotic scenario, the back-reaction effects prevent the unlimited growth of the scalar field.

`Constraint consistency' at all orders in cosmological perturbation theory

We study the equivalence of two—order-by-order Einstein's equation and Reduced action—approaches to cosmological perturbation theory at all orders for different models of inflation. We point out a crucial consistency check which we refer to as `Constraint consistency' condition that needs to be satisfied in order for the two approaches to lead to identical single variable equation of motion. The method we propose here is quick and efficient to check the consistency for any model including modified gravity models. Our analysis points out an important feature which is crucial for inflationary model building i.e., all `constraint' inconsistent models have higher order Ostrogradsky's instabilities but the reverse is not true. In other words, one can have models with constraint Lapse function and Shift vector, though it may have Ostrogradsky's instabilities. We also obtain single variable equation for non-canonical scalar field in the limit of power-law inflation for the second-order perturbed variables.