The Inflationary Universe

Max Camenzind
IMPRS Cosmology SS2009
Day 6/1

Two Major Cosmological Discoveries

(i) The new-born universe experienced
rapid acceleration (called Inflation)
(ii) A new (slow) stage of acceleration
started 5 billion years ago (Dark Energy)
Two Major questions:
How did the Universe start,
and how it is going to end?

Topics

What is Inflation ?
On Inflation History
Problems of the Standard Model
How to describe Inflation ? The Inflaton
Field and Slow-Roll Conditions.
Fluctuations in the Inflaton field.
Quantisation
Universal Fluctuation Spectrum

What is Inflation ?
In physical cosmology, cosmic inflation,
cosmological inflation or just inflation is
the theorized exponential expansion of the
universe at the end of the grand unification
epoch, 10-36 seconds after the Big Bang,
driven by a negative-pressure vacuum
energy density. The term "inflation" is also
used to refer to the hypothesis that
inflation occurred, to the theory of inflation,
or to the inflationary epoch.

Idea of Inflationary Universe

1030

Inflation - Mechanisms
As a direct consequence of this expansion, all of the
observable universe originated in a small causally
connected region. Inflation answers the classic
conundrum of the big bang cosmology: why does the
universe appear flat, homogeneous and isotropic in
accordance with the cosmological principle when one
would expect, on the basis of the physics of the big
bang, a highly curved, heterogeneous universe? Inflation
also explains the origin of the large-scale structure of the
cosmos. Quantum fluctuations in the microscopic
inflationary region, magnified to cosmic size, become the
seeds for the growth of structure in the universe (see
galaxy formation and evolution and structure formation)

Inflation - History
Inflation was proposed by Alexei
Starobinski (1979/80) in the Soviet Union,
and simultaneously by Alan Guth
(1980/81) in the United States. Guth's
mechanism is different from Starobinski's,
and requires a modification to allow for a
graceful exit from inflation. This
modification was provided independently
by Andrei Linde, and by Andreas Albrecht
and Paul Steinhardt.

Inflation Pioneers
Proposed by Guth in 1981 to
solve:
Horizon problem
Flatness problem

Andrei Linde
Stanford

Basic idea: universe undergoes

exponential expansion in early
history
Alan Guth
MIT

Theories of Inflation over the Years

1980

-inflation

Old Inflation

New Inflation

Chaotic inflation
SUGRA inflation

Double Inflation

Power-law inflation

Natural inflation

Hybrid inflation

1990

SUSY F-term
inflation
2000

SUSY P-term
inflation
inflation

Assisted inflation
SUSY D-term
inflation

Brane inflation

Super-natural
Inflation

K-flation

N-flation
DBI inflation
Tachyon inflation

Racetrack inflation

Extended inflation

Warped Brane
inflation

Roulette inflation Kahler moduli/axion

Problems in Standard Model

The Standard Big-Bang Model has many deep
problems:
Flatness Problem: The flatness problem (also
known as the oldness problem) is an
observational problem associated with a FRW
model.
Causality Problem: The causlaity or horizon
problem results from the premise that information
cannot travel faster than light.
Monopole Problem: Grand unification theories
predicted topological defects in space that would
manifest as magnetic monopoles.
General Scale Problem: ~ m is no natural scale

The Flatness Problem

The Horizon Problem

When we look at the CMB it
comes from 46 billion comoving
light years away. However when
the light was emitted the universe
was much younger (300,000
years old). In that time light would
have only reached as far as the
smaller circles. The two points
indicated on the diagram would
not have been able to contact
each other because their spheres
of causality do not overlap.

Horizon Problem
We observer

Decoupling
Big Bang

The Horizon Problem

in Conformal Time

The Relic Problems

The Gravitino: The gravitino is the supersymmetric
partner of the graviton, as predicted by theories
combining general relativity and supersymmetry; i.e.
supergravity theories. If it exists it is a fermion of spin
3/2. Thay later, after they decay later, after BBN, would
ruin BBN.
The Monopoles: In physics, a magnetic monopole is a
hypothetical particle that is a magnet with only one pole
(see Maxwell's equations for more on magnetic poles). In
more technical terms, it would have a net "magnetic
charge". Modern interest in the concept stems from
particle theories, notably Grand Unified Theories and
superstring theories, which predict their existence.
Other topological defects (Strings etc)

Inflaton Dynamics
The simplest scenario features a single scalar field
moving in a potential V(). Many apparently more
complicated scenarios can be reduced to this.

a
8 G
1 2
H 2=
V ( ) + 2
3
a
V()
dV
+ 3H =
d
2

The slow-Roll Approximation

These equations can only be solved
exactly for a few choices of potential,
for example an exponential potential

V ( ) exp( ) ; 2 < 2
However, usually sufficiently accurate
results can be obtained by using the
slow-roll approximation.

8 G
1 2
H =
V ( ) + 2
3
dV

+ 3H =
d
2

Ordinarily the equations can then be solved analytically.

Conveniently, the condition for inflation to occur is almost precisely
the same as that for validity of the slow-roll approximation.

The Inflaton
Field
Equation State

The Inflaton
Field
Ex: Slow-Roll

Field >> Planck value !

Inflation Conditions

Models of Inflation
A potential V()
A way to end inflation, e.g. if slow-roll
condition is no longer valid
Reheating
or when extra physics enters: hybrid
inflation.

Amount of Inflation

Flow lines for the Universe

This side Universe

closed
This side
Universe open

Universe starts at
(matter,)=(1,0) and moves to
attractor point at (0,1) (de Sitter)
which curve are we on??

matter

Why do we need inflation?

Problems of the standard Big Bang theory:

What was before the Big Bang?

Why is our universe so homogeneous (better
than 1 part in 10000) ?
Why is it isotropic (the same in all directions)?
Why all of its parts started expanding
simultaneously?
Why it is flat?
flat Why parallel lines do not intersect?
Why it contains so many particles? Why there are
so many people in this auditorium?

Guts New Inflation

V
Ideas from
GUT phase
transitions

Inflation as a theory of a harmonic oscillator

Eternal Inflation

Equations of motion:
Einstein:

Klein-Gordon:

Compare with equation for the harmonic oscillator with

friction:

Attractors

Phase Plot for

Chaotic Inflation

Logic of Inflation:
Large

large H

large friction

field moves very slowly, so that its potential

energy for a long time remains nearly constant

No need for false vacuum, supercooling, phase transitions, etc.

Inflation makes the Universe flat,

homogeneous and isotropic
In this simple model the
universe typically grows
1030 times during
inflation.

Now we can see just a

tiny part of the universe
of size ct = 1010 light yrs.
That is why the universe
looks homogeneous,
isotropic, and flat.

Hybrid Inflation

String Theory Landscape

Perhaps 10100 - 101000

different minima

Lerche, Lust, Schellekens 1987

Bousso, Polchinski; Susskind; Douglas, Denef,

Example: Racetrack Inflation

waterfall from the

saddle point

Example: SUSY Landscape

Supersymmetric SU(5)
V

SU(5)

SU(4)xU(1)

SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1)

Weinberg 1982: Supersymmetry forbids tunneling from SU(5) to

SU(3)xSU(2)XU(1). This implied that we cannot break SU(5) symmetry.
A.L. 1983: Inflation solves this problem. Inflationary fluctuations bring us to
each of the three minima. Inflation make each of the parts of the universe
exponentially big. We can live only in the SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1) minimum.

Self-Reproducing Inflationary Universe

A. Linde

Linear theory (coordinate approach)

Perturbed Friedmann universe

ds = -(1 + 2A) dt + a(t) (1 2) ij dxi dxj

curvature perturbation

(t+dt)
(t)

d
xi = const.

proper time along xi = const.: d = (1 + A)dt

curvature perturbation on (t):

( 3)

4
R= 2
a

Quantum Fluctuations in
Inhomogeneous spacetime in Newtonian gauge (vanishing stress)
(see Sect. on Perturbations)

Einsteins equations imply ~ Klein-Gordon equation with mass-term:

Adiabatic fluctuations dS = 0

Make a rescaling, such that 1st order derivative disappears:

Klein-Gordon
equation with
mass given by
m = -z/z
Can be
quantized similar

For K = 0 and cS = c
Inflaton field is the source
for metric perturbations.

Quantisation of

Short wavelength limit

Long wavelength limit

Simple Scalar Field

in de Sitter

Mode leaving
the Horizon is
frozen in.

Potential Barrier and Power Spec

Power Spectrum

Conventional Slow-Roll Approx

Solution by Hankel functions

Wavelengths are simply stretched in Expansion

Quantum
Fluctuations
in Pot

Power Spectrum Chaotic Inflation

QGravity
Cutoff ?

Parameters:
Chaotic
Inflation
m =
1.9x10-12 MP
d(0) = -0.1 MP/s
N = 57.65
MP = 1/8G
Andreas Heinen Thesis 2005

Finite Volume
Suppression?

(0) = 16.8 MP

Tensor Power Spectrum - GWaves

Andreas Heinen Thesis 2005

Power Spectrum Running Spec Index

Running spectral index:

Andreas Heinen Thesis 2005

Power Spectrum Running Spec Index

Andreas Heinen Thesis 2005

Power Spectrum Spectral Ratio

Andreas Heinen Thesis 2005

Power Spectrum Chaotic Inflation

Andreas Heinen Thesis 2005

Power Spectrum Quartic Potential

Parameters:
Quartic
Inflation
= 1.75 x 10-13
(0) = 24 MP
d(0) = - 1 MP/s
N = 60.58
MP = 1/8G

Andreas Heinen Thesis 2005

Power Spectrum Quartic Potential

Andreas Heinen Thesis 2005

Power Spectrum Quartic Inflation

Andreas Heinen Thesis 2005

Preheating in Inflation

Mathiey Equation

Stability Regions
in Mathieu Equation

Fluctuation in Density

Frolov 2009

Fluctuation in Psi

Frolov 2009

Lognormal Distribution

Frolov 2009

Connection QGravity ~ Inflation

What was the physical size

of cosmological scales
contributing to the CMB
today before inflation?
This depends on the number
of e-folds of inflation. Most
models give more than the
minimum of 60ish e-folds.
Generically, those scales
begin at sizes less than the
Planck scale! Certainly, we
should expect these scales
to encompass new physics
thresholds.
Does new physics stretch
as well?

time

The Trans-Planckian Problem

H1(t)
inflation ends

MPl
rhor(t)
space

Summary
Inflation solves Flatness problem, Horizon
problem & many other aspects: N > 55.
Inflation also provides source for
perturbations on the Friedmann background
by means of quantum fluctuations in the
very Early Universe ~ 10-5.
These perturbations are frozen in, once
they are stretched by expansion beyond the
horizon.
Power spectrum and spectral index will
depend on inflation model.