Inflation. [Inflation in cosmological models]
- Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, Cambridge (United States)
A short review of inflation is given, starting with a description of the underlying mechanism and the scenario of events. Four variations -- old inflation, new inflation, chaotic inflation, and extended inflation -- are discussed. It is claimed that the inflationary model provides a plausible explanation for (i) the large number of particles in the universe, (ii) the Hubble expansion, (iii) the large-scale uniformity of the universe, (iv) the nearness of the universe to a critical density, (v) the absence of magnetic monopoles, and (vi) the scale-invariant spectrum of microwave background fluctuations observed by COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer). Finally, it is argued that the plausibility of inflation is enhanced by the fact the inflation is eternal. 54 refs., 2 figs.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76ER03069
- OSTI ID:
- 6395076
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9203232-; CODEN: PNASA6
- Journal Information:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (United States), Vol. 90:11; Conference: National Academy of Sciences (NAS) special colloquium on physical cosmology, Irvine, CA (United States), Mar 1992; ISSN 0027-8424
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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