Beginning inflation in an inhomogeneous universe
Abstract
Using numerical solutions of the full Einstein field equations coupled to a scalar inflaton field in 3+1 dimensions, we study the conditions under which a universe that is initially expanding, highly inhomogeneous and dominated by gradient energy can transition to an inflationary period. If the initial scalar field variations are contained within a sufficiently flat region of the inflaton potential, and the universe is spatially flat or open on average, inflation will occur following the dilution of the gradient and kinetic energy due to expansion. This is the case even when the scale of the inhomogeneities is comparable to the initial Hubble length, and overdense regions collapse and form black holes, because underdense regions continue expanding, allowing inflation to eventually begin. In conclusion, this establishes that inflation can arise from highly inhomogeneous initial conditions and solve the horizon and flatness problems, at least as long as the variations in the scalar field do not include values that exceed the inflationary plateau.
- Authors:
-
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- New York Univ. (NYU), NY (United States)
- Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States)
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1325925
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-76SF00515
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 2016; Journal Issue: 09; Journal ID: ISSN 1475-7516
- Publisher:
- Institute of Physics (IOP)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
Citation Formats
East, William E., Kleban, Matthew, Linde, Andrei, and Senatore, Leonardo. Beginning inflation in an inhomogeneous universe. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2016/09/010.
East, William E., Kleban, Matthew, Linde, Andrei, & Senatore, Leonardo. Beginning inflation in an inhomogeneous universe. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2016/09/010
East, William E., Kleban, Matthew, Linde, Andrei, and Senatore, Leonardo. Tue .
"Beginning inflation in an inhomogeneous universe". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2016/09/010. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1325925.
@article{osti_1325925,
title = {Beginning inflation in an inhomogeneous universe},
author = {East, William E. and Kleban, Matthew and Linde, Andrei and Senatore, Leonardo},
abstractNote = {Using numerical solutions of the full Einstein field equations coupled to a scalar inflaton field in 3+1 dimensions, we study the conditions under which a universe that is initially expanding, highly inhomogeneous and dominated by gradient energy can transition to an inflationary period. If the initial scalar field variations are contained within a sufficiently flat region of the inflaton potential, and the universe is spatially flat or open on average, inflation will occur following the dilution of the gradient and kinetic energy due to expansion. This is the case even when the scale of the inhomogeneities is comparable to the initial Hubble length, and overdense regions collapse and form black holes, because underdense regions continue expanding, allowing inflation to eventually begin. In conclusion, this establishes that inflation can arise from highly inhomogeneous initial conditions and solve the horizon and flatness problems, at least as long as the variations in the scalar field do not include values that exceed the inflationary plateau.},
doi = {10.1088/1475-7516/2016/09/010},
journal = {Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics},
number = 09,
volume = 2016,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 06 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Tue Sep 06 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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