Loop cosmological implications of a nonminimally coupled scalar field

Journal Article · Tue Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.74.044033· OSTI ID:20871011

Bojowald, Martin; Kagan, Mikhail ^[1]

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1. Institute for Gravitational Physics and Geometry, Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 (United States)

Nonminimal actions with matter represented by a scalar field coupled to gravity are considered in the context of a homogeneous and isotropic universe. The coupling is of the form -(1/2){xi}{phi}{sup 2}R. The possibility of successful inflation is investigated taking into account features of loop cosmology. For that end a conformal transformation is performed. That brings the theory into the standard minimally coupled form (Einstein frame) with some effective field and its potential. Both analytical and numerical estimates show that a negative coupling constant is preferable for successful inflation. Moreover, provided fixed initial conditions, larger {xi} leads to a greater number of e-folds. The latter is obtained for a reasonable range of initial conditions and the coupling parameter and indicates a possibility for successful inflation.

• OSTI ID: 20871011
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 74; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
COSMOLOGY
COUPLING
COUPLING CONSTANTS
GRAVITATION
INFLATIONARY UNIVERSE
POTENTIALS
SCALAR FIELDS
TRANSFORMATIONS
UNIVERSE