Slow-roll Limit Research Articles

Superhorizon Curvature Perturbations Are Protected against One-Loop Corrections.

We examine one-loop corrections from small-scale curvature perturbations to the superhorizon-limit ones in single-field inflation models, which have recently caused controversy. We consider the case where the Universe experiences transitions of slow-roll (SR)→intermediate period→SR. The intermediate period can be an ultra-slow-roll period or a resonant amplification period, either of which enhances small-scale curvature perturbations. We assume that the superhorizon curvature perturbations are conserved at least during each of the SR periods. Within this framework, we show that the superhorizon curvature perturbations during the first and the second SR periods coincide at one-loop level in the slow-roll limit.

Novel Phenomena of the Hartle–Hawking Wave Function

We find a novel phenomenon in the solution to the Wheeler–DeWitt equation by solving numerically the equation assuming O(4)-symmetry and imposing the Hartle–Hawking wave function as a boundary condition. In the slow-roll limit, as expected, the numerical solution gives the most dominant steepest-descent that describes the probability distribution for the initial condition of a universe. The probability is consistent with the Euclidean computations, and the overall shape of the wave function is compatible with analytical approximations, although there exist novel differences in the detailed probability computation. Our approach gives an alternative point of view for the no-boundary wave function from the wave function point of view. Possible interpretations and conceptual issues of this wave function are discussed.

Effectiveness of rastall gravity in modified chaplygin gas inspired viscous-flation

This paper is a contribution to study the effectiveness of Rastall gravity (RG) by another mechanism of warm viscous inflation inspired by modified Chaplygin gas (MCG). The matter contents of our cosmos are taken to be standard scalar field (ϕ) and radiation within flat FRW geometry. We establish the current model using intermediate form of scale factor and calculate the analytic solution of inflaton, effective potential V(ϕ) necessary to inflate the Universe and entropy density S under slow-roll limit. The further work in this paper is restricted to high dissipative regime, taking constant and variable dissipative (Γ) and viscous coefficients (ξ). The evaluated exact solutions are the main source in developing the inflationary observable like scalar/tensor power spectra, scalar/tensor spectral indices, tensor to scalar ratio and running of scalar spectral index for our model. The model parameters as well as additional theory parameter λ are constrained to check the compatibility of RG with Planck 2018 data via and α s − n s trajectories. We conclude that RG along with modification of CG model can lead to significant changes in the early universe.

Cosmology from quantum information

We describe inflation in terms of a time dependent quantum density matrix with time playing the role of a stochastic variable. Using a quasi-de Sitter model we compute the corresponding quantum Fisher information function as the second derivative of the relative entanglement entropy for the density matrix at two different times. Employing standard quantum estimation theory we evaluate the minimal variance of quantum scalar fluctuations that reproduces the power spectrum and the corresponding tilt in the slow roll limit. The Jeffreys prior associated with such Fisher information can be used to define the probabilities on the set of initial conditions defined by the slow roll parameter $\epsilon$ and the initial Shannon information.

Inflationary solution of Hamilton Jacobi equations during weak dissipative regime

In this paper, an elegant mathematical approach is introduced to solve the equations of warm inflationary model without using extra approximations other than slow-roll. This important inflationary method known as Hamilton–Jacobian formalism. Here tachyon field and the imperfect fluid are considered to be the cosmic ingredients to create inflation. A general formalism is developed for the considered inflationary model and further work is restricted to weak dissipative regime. A detailed analysis of the model is presented for three different choices of bulk and dissipative coefficients taking as constant as well as variable (function of Hubble parameter and inflaton). In each case, the involved model parameters are constrained to plot the physical acceptable range of scalar spectral index and tensor to scalar ratio. The parametric trajectories proved that the acquired results for all the three cases are compatible with Planck astrophysical data. Furthermore, the existence of warm inflation and slow-roll limit are also verified graphically.

Stochastic inflation beyond slow roll

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 (hence one works in the uniform-N gauge) in the Langevin equations. We show that these corrections vanish in the slow-roll limit, but we also explain how to calculate them in general. We compute them in difference cases, including ultra-slow roll and the Starobinsky model that interpolates between slow roll and ultra-slow roll, and find the corrections to be negligible in practice. This confirms the validity of the stochastic formalism for studying quantum backreaction effects in the very early universe beyond slow roll.

Slow-roll inflation in loop quantum cosmology of scalar–tensor theories of gravity

The slow-roll inflation of scalar–tensor theories (STTs) of gravity in the context of loop quantum cosmology (LQC) is investigated in this paper. After deriving the effective Hamiltonian, we obtain the semiclassical equations of motion for the background variables in both Jordan frame and Einstein frame of STTs. Then we apply these equations in the slow-roll limit and derive the LQC corrections to the scalar spectral index [Formula: see text] and the tensor-to-scalar ratio [Formula: see text] in the two frames of STTs. Finally, we take two special sectors of STTs as specific examples, namely the Starobinsky model and the non-minimally coupled scalar field model (with the coupling function [Formula: see text] and the potential [Formula: see text]). We derive the detailed expressions of the LQC corrections to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in terms of the [Formula: see text]-folding number for these two models in both frames.

Chromo-natural model in anisotropic background

In this work we study the chromo-natural inflation model in the anisotropic setup. Initiating inflation from Bianchi type-I cosmology, we analyze the system thoroughly during the slow-roll inflation, from both analytical and numerical points of view. We show that the isotropic FRW inflation is an attractor of the system. In other words, anisotropies are damped within few e-folds and the chromo-natural model respects the cosmic no-hair conjecture. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in the slow-roll limit, the anisotropies in both chromo-natural and gauge-flation models share the same dynamics.

One-particle-irreducible consistency relations for cosmological perturbations

We derive consistency relations for correlators of scalar cosmological perturbations that hold in the ``squeezed limit'' in which one or more of the external momenta become soft. Our results are formulated as relations between suitably defined one-particle-irreducible $N$-point and ($N\ensuremath{-}1$)-point functions that follow from residual spatial conformal diffeomorphisms of the unitary gauge Lagrangian. As such, some of these relations are exact to all orders in perturbation theory and do not rely on approximate de Sitter invariance or other dynamical assumptions (e.g., properties of the operator product expansion or the behavior of modes at the horizon crossing). The consistency relations apply model-independently to cosmological scenarios in which the time evolution is driven by a single scalar field. Besides reproducing the known results for single-field inflation in the slow-roll limit, we verify that our consistency relations hold more generally, for instance, in ghost condensate models in flat space. We comment on possible extensions of our results to multifield models.

BINGO: a code for the efficient computation of the scalar bi-spectrum

We present a new and accurate Fortran code, the BI-spectra and Non-Gaussianity Operator (BINGO), for the efficient numerical computation of the scalar bi-spectrum and the non-Gaussianity parameter fNL in single field inflationary models involving the canonical scalar field. The code can calculate all the different contributions to the bi-spectrum and the parameter fNL for an arbitrary triangular configuration of the wavevectors. Focusing firstly on the equilateral limit, we illustrate the accuracy of BINGO by comparing the results from the code with the spectral dependence of the bi-spectrum expected in power law inflation. Then, considering an arbitrary triangular configuration, we contrast the numerical results with the analytical expression available in the slow roll limit, for, say, the case of the conventional quadratic potential. Considering a non-trivial scenario involving deviations from slow roll, we compare the results from the code with the analytical results that have recently been obtained in the case of the Starobinsky model in the equilateral limit. As an immediate application, we utilize BINGO to examine of the power of the non-Gaussianity parameter fNL to discriminate between various inflationary models that admit departures from slow roll and lead to similar features in the scalar power spectrum. We close with a summary and discussion on the implications of the results we obtain.

Low-energy effective field theory for chromo-natural inflation

Chromo-natural inflation is a novel model of inflation which relies on the existence of non-abelian gauge fields interacting with an axion. In its simplest realization, an SU(2) gauge field is assumed to begin inflation in a rotationally invariant VEV. The dynamics of the gauge fields significantly modifies the equations of motion for the axion, providing an additional damping term that supports slow-roll inflation, without the need to fine tune the axion decay constant. We demonstrate that in an appropriate slow-roll limit it is possible to integrate out the massive gauge field fluctuations whilst still maintaining the nontrivial modifications of the gauge field to the axion. In this slow-roll limit, chromo-natural inflation is exactly equivalent to a single scalar field effective theory with a non-minimal kinetic term, i.e. a P(X,χ) model. This occurs through a precise analogue of the gelaton mechanism, whereby heavy fields can have unsuppressed effects on the light field dynamics without contradicting decoupling. The additional damping effect of the gauge fields can be completely captured by the non-minimal kinetic term of the single scalar field effective theory. We utilize the single scalar field effective theory to infer the power spectrum and non-gaussianities in chromo-natural inflation and confirm that the mass squared of all the gauge field fluctuations is sufficiently large and positive that they completely decouple during inflation. These results confirm that chromo-natural inflation is a viable, stable and compelling model for the generation of inflationary perturbations.

Scalar perturbations from brane-world inflation with curvature effects

We consider a generalization of the Randall-Sundrum single brane-world scenario (RS2). More precisely, the generalization is described through curvature corrections, corresponding to a Gauss-Bonnet term in the bulk and a Hilbert-Einstein term, as well as the strength of the induced gravity term, on the brane. We are mainly interested in analyzing the early inflationary era of the brane, which we model within the extreme slow-roll limit, i.e., under a de Sitter like brane inflation, where the inflaton field is confined on the brane. We compute the scalar perturbations in this model and compare our results with those previously obtained for the RS2 scenario with and without an induced gravity term on the brane or a Gauss-Bonnet term in the bulk. The amplitude of the scalar perturbations is decreased as compared with a pure RS2 model. In addition, the effect from the Gauss-Bonnet correction in an induced gravity brane-world model is to decrease the amplitude of the scalar perturbations, and a similar result is obtained for the induced gravity effect in a Gauss-Bonnet brane-world. In general, in the high energy limit the amplitude is highly suppressed by the Gauss-Bonnet effect. Finally, we constrain the model using the latest WMAP7 data.

Is non-minimal inflation eternal?

The possibility that the non-minimal coupling inflation could be eternal is investigated. We calculate the quantum fluctuation of the inflaton in a Hubble time and find that it has the same value as that in the minimal case in the slow-roll limit. Armed with this result, we have studied some concrete non-minimal inflationary models including the chaotic inflation and the natural inflation, in which the inflaton is non-minimally coupled to the gravity. We find that the non-minimal coupling inflation could be eternal in some parameter spaces.

Modified scalar and tensor spectra in spinor driven inflation

One of the firm predictions of single-scalar field inflationarycosmology is the consistency relation between scalar and tensorperturbations. It has been argued that such a relation, ifobservationally verified, would offer strong support for the idea ofinflation. In this letter, we critically analyze the validity of theconsistency relation in the context of spinor driven inflation. The spinflaton –a condensate of the Elko field — has a single scalar degree offreedom and leads to the same acceleration equation as theinflaton. We obtain the perturbation equations for the Einstein-Elkosystem and show that the scalar perturbations are purely adiabatic andthe sound speed of the perturbations is identically one. We obtain thegeneralized Mukhanov-Sasaki equation for the spinor driven inflation and showthat, in the slow-roll limit, the scalar and tensor spectra are nearlyscale-invariant. We also show that spinor driven inflation naturally predictsrunning of spectral indices and the consistency relations for thespectra are modified.

WHAT IF THE INFLATON IS A SPINOR CONDENSATE?

In the usual cosmological inflationary scenarios, the scalar field — the inflaton — is usually assumed to be an elementary field. In this essay, we ask: What are the observational signatures if the scalar field is a spinor condensate? And is there a way to distinguish between the canonical scalar field and the spinor-condensate-driven models? In the homogeneous and isotropic background, we show that — although the dark-spinor (Elko) condensate leads to an acceleration equation identical to that of the canonical-scalar-field-driven inflation — the dynamics of the two models are different. In the slow-roll limit, we show that the model predicts a running of the scalar spectral index consistent with the WMAP data. We show that the consistency relations between the spinor condensate and the canonical-scalar-field-driven model are different, which we will be able to test using the future CMB and gravitational wave missions.

Inflationary potentials in DBI models

We study DBI inflation based upon a general model characterized by a power-law flow parameter ϵ(ϕ) ∝ ϕα and speed of sound cs(ϕ) ∝ ϕβ, where α and β are constants. We show that in the slow-roll limit this general model gives rise to distinct inflationary classes according to the relation between α and β and to the time evolution of the inflaton field, each one corresponding to a specific potential; in particular, we find that the well-known canonical polynomial (large- and small-field), hybrid and exponential potentials also arise in this non-canonical model. We find that these non-canonical classes have the same physical features as their canonical analogs, except for the fact that the inflaton field evolves with varying speed of sound; also, we show that a broad class of canonical and D-brane inflation models are particular cases of this general non-canonical model. Next, we compare the predictions of large-field polynomial models with the current observational data, showing that models with low speed of sound have red-tilted scalar spectrum with low tensor-to-scalar ratio, in good agreement with the observed values. These models also show a correlation between large non-gaussianity with low tensor amplitudes, which is a distinct signature of DBI inflation with large-field polynomial potentials.

Brane inflation and the overshoot problem

We investigate recent claims that brane inflation solves the overshoot problem through a combination of microphysical restrictions on the phase space of initial conditions and the existence of the Dirac-Born-Infeld attractor in regimes where the slow-roll attractor does not apply. Carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the parameter space allowed by the latest advances in brane inflation model-building, we find that these restrictions are insufficient to solve the overshoot problem. The vast majority of the phase space of initial conditions is still dominated by overshoot trajectories. We present an analytic proof that the brane-inflationary attractor must be close to the slow-roll limit, and update the predictions for observables such as non-Gaussianity, cosmic string tension, and tensor modes.

On the consistency of warm inflation

Conditions are obtained for the existence of a warm inflationary attractor in the system ofequations describing an inflaton coupled to radiation. These conditions restrict thetemperature dependence of the dissipative terms and the size of thermal corrections to theinflaton potential, as well as the gradient of the inflaton potential. When these conditionsare met, the evolution approaches a slow-roll limit and only curvature fluctuations surviveon super-horizon scales. Formulae are given for the spectral indices of the densityperturbations and the tensor/scalar density perturbation amplitude ratio in warminflation.

Tachyon field in loop quantum cosmology: Inflation and evolution picture

Loop quantum cosmology (LQC) predicts a nonsingular evolution of the universne through a bounce in the high energy region. We show that this is always true in tachyon matter LQC. Differing from the classical Friedman-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmology, the super inflation can appear in the tachyon matter LQC; furthermore, the inflation can be extended to the region where classical inflation stops. Using the numerical method, we give an evolution picture of the tachyon field with an exponential potential in the context of LQC. It indicates that the quantum dynamical solutions have the same attractive behavior as the classical solutions do. The whole evolution of the tachyon field is that in the distant past, the tachyon field---being in the contracting cosmology---accelerates to climb up the potential hill with a negative velocity; then at the boundary the tachyon field is bounced into an expanding universe with positive velocity rolling down to the bottom of the potential. In the slow roll limit, we compare the quantum inflation with the classical case in both an analytic and a numerical way.

TEST OF PATCH COSMOLOGY WITH WMAP

We calculate the power spectrum, spectral index, and running spectral index for inflationary patch cosmology arisen from Gauss–Bonnet braneworld scenario using the Mukhanov equation. This patch cosmology consists of Gauss–Bonnet (GB), Randall–Sundrum (RS-II), and four-dimensional (4D) cosmological models. There exist several modifications in higher order calculations. However, taking the power-law inflation by choosing different potentials depending on the model, there exist minor changes up to second order corrections. Since second order corrections are rather small in the slow-roll limit, we could not choose a desired power-law model which explains the WMAP data. Finally we discuss the reliability of high order calculations based on the Mukhanov equation by comparing the perturbed equation including 5D metric perturbations. It turns out that first order corrections are reliable, while second order corrections are not proved to be reliable.