# Different Models of Inflation

There is a number of inflationary models. All of them deal with potentials of scalar fields which realize the slow-roll regime during sufficiently long period of evolution, then the inflation terminates and Universe enters the hot stage. It is worth noting that the models considered below are among the simplest ones and they do not exhaust all the possibilities, however they give the main idea about possible features of the evolution of scale factor in the slow-roll regime of inflation.

## Chaotic Inflation (Inflation with Power Law Potential)

The chaotic inflation, or the inflation with high field, is considered as a rule with the power law potentials of the form $$V=g\varphi^n,$$ where $g$ is a dimensional constant of interaction: $$[g]=(\mbox{mass})^{4-n}$$ It should be noted that the slow-roll conditions for the given potential are always satisfied for sufficiently high values of the inflaton field $$\varphi\gg\frac{nM_{Pl}}{4\sqrt{3\pi}},$$ therefore the slow-roll takes place at field values which are great compared to Planck units.

### Problem 1

Consider inflation with simple power law potential $$V=g\phi^n,$$ and show that there is wide range of scalar field values where classical Einstein equations are applicable and the slow-roll regime is realized too. Assume that the interaction constant $g$ is sufficiently small in Planck units.

### Problem 2

Estimate the total duration of chaotic inflation in the case of power law potentials of second and forth order.

### Problem 3

Express the slow-roll parameters for power law potentials in terms of $e$-folding number $N_e$ till the end of inflation.

### Problem 4

Obtain the number $N$ of $e$-fold increase of the scale factor in the model $$V\left( \varphi \right) = \lambda \varphi ^4 \quad \left( {\lambda = 10^{ - 10} } \right).$$

### Problem 5

Estimate the range of scalar field values corresponding to the inflation epoch in the model $$V(\varphi ) = \lambda \varphi ^4 \left( {\lambda \ll 1} \right).$$

### Problem 6

Show that the classical analysis of the evolution of the Universe is applicable for the scalar field value $\varphi\gg M_{Pl}$, which allows the inflation to start.

### Problem 7

Find the time dependence for the scale factor in the inflation regime for potential $(1/n)\lambda\varphi^n$, assuming $\varphi\gg M_{Pl}$.

### Problem 8

The inflation conditions definitely break down near the minimum of the inflaton potential and the Universe leaves the inflation regime. The scalar field starts to oscillate near the minimum. Assuming that the oscillations' period is much smaller than the cosmological time scale, determine the effective state equation near the minimum of the inflaton potential.

### Problem 9

Show that effective state equation for the scalar field, obtained in the previous problem for potential $V\propto\varphi^n$, in the case $n=2$ corresponds to non-relativistic matter and for $n=4$ - to the ultra-relativistic component (radiation).

### Problem 10

Obtain the time dependence of scalar field near the minimum of the potential.

### Problem 11

Find the energy-momentum tensor of a homogeneous scalar field in the regime of fast oscillations near the potential's minimum.

### Problem 12

Check whether the chaotic inflation model agrees with the experimental data, which give the value $r=\mathcal{P}_\mathcal{T}/\mathcal{P}_\mathcal{R}<0.2$ for the tensor perturbation amplitude and $n_s=0.94\div 0.99$ for the spectrum slope. For the inflaton potential take $V(\varphi)=m^2\varphi^2/2$.

### Problem 13

Consider chaotic inflation with potential $V(\varphi)=m^2\varphi^2/2$ and obtain the difference between the spectrum slopes for the waves corresponding to cosmological perturbations of sizes $100\ kpc$ and $10\ Gpc$.

### Problem 14

What is the difference between the chaotic inflation model by Linde and its original version by Starobinsky--Guth?

## The Novel Inflation (the Inflation Near Minimum of the Potntial)

As the reader might notice in the previous subsection, the chaotic inflation requires to include the super-Planck field values, however it is worth noting that there is an inflation model free of such requirement. Conditions of possible inflation start in this model considerably differ from the chaotic initial data. At the same time the flatness requirement for the inflaton potential is present in this model too.

Consider an inflaton potential shown on figure and assume that for small $\varphi$ it takes the form $$V(\phi)=V_0-g\phi^n,$$ where $n\geq 3$. The most often considered potential is the forth order one $$V(\phi)=V_0-\frac{\lambda}{4}\phi^4.$$ The inflation model with such potential is called novel inflation.

### Problem 15

Show that the inflation regime can start without super-Planck values of the inflaton field. Consider potential of the form $V(\varphi)=V_0-\frac{\lambda}{4}\varphi^4.$

### Problem 16

Consider the inflation model in which the inflaton potential for small $\varphi$ takes the form $$V(\varphi)=V_0-\frac\lambda 4\varphi^4.$$ Assume that the slow-roll regime terminates at comparably small value of the inflaton field, so that $\lambda \varphi^4_e\ll V_0$, to obtain the ratio $\epsilon/|\eta |$. Determine which of the two parameters reaches unity first.

### Problem 17

Using the results of the previous problem and the condition $\lambda \varphi^4_e\ll V_0$, obtain the inequality giving the condition for realization of the novel inflation scenario.

### Problem 18

For the model of problem 16 obtain the post-inflation heat up temperature $T_{reh}$.

### Problem 19

For the model of problem 16 determine the relation between the inflaton field value on the inflation stage and the $e$-folding number till the end of inflation.

### Problem 20

For the model of problem 16 determine the relation between the slow-roll parameters and the $e$-folding number till the end of inflation.

### Problem 21

Estimate the duration of novel inflation.

### Problem 22

Obtain the relation $$\eta=-\frac{n-1}{n-2}\frac{1}{N_e}$$ for the novel inflation model with the potential of the form $V(\varphi)=V_0-g\varphi^n,$ where $n\geq 3$.

## Inflation with Exponential Potential (the Power Law Inflation)

### Problem 23

Find the scalar field potential that gives rise to the power law for the scale factor growth $a(t)\propto {{t}^{p}}.$

### Problem 24

Find the exact particular solution of the system of equations for the scalar field in potential $V(\varphi)=g\exp(-\lambda\varphi)$.

### Problem 25

Compare the solution obtained in the previous problem with the solution of evolution equations for the scalar field in the expanding Universe in the inflation limit.

### Problem 26

Show that dependence $H(\varphi)\propto\exp\left(-\sqrt{\frac{1}{2p}}\frac{\varphi}{M_{Pl}}\right)$ leads to power law inflation $a(t)=a_0 t^p$.

### Problem 27

Show that dependence $H(\varphi)=\varphi^{-\beta}$ leads to the so-called intermediate inflation (the Universe expansion goes faster than any power law and slower than the exponential one), such that $a(t)\propto\exp(At^f),\ 0<f<1,\quad A>0,\quad f=(1+\beta/2)^{-1}.$

### Problem 28

Consider the inflation model with potential $V(\varphi)=\Lambda\exp (-\varphi/\varphi_0)$ and obtain the field values at which the slow-roll conditions are satisfied. Assume that inflation terminates at $\varphi=\varphi_1$.

### Problem 29

Consider the inflation model of the previous problem and obtain the initial value of the field required to prolong the inflation for $N_e\gtrsim 60$ $e$-foldings. What value of $\Lambda$ gives the correct amplitude $\delta\rho/\rho\simeq\sqrt{\mathcal{P}_\mathcal{R}}\simeq 5\cdot 10^{-5}$ of the scalar perturbations?

## The Hybrid Inflation

One more inflation model free of super-Planck fields is called the \textbf{hybrid inflation}. In the simplest version this model contains two scalar fields---the inflaton field $\varphi$ and an additional field $\chi$ (see figure). During the inflation stage the field $\varphi$ is high, and the system slowly rolls along the valley $\chi =0$. After that the valley $\chi =0$ transforms into a saddle, the fast roll takes place in perpendicular direction, the inflation terminates, and the oscillations near the minimum $\varphi =0,$ $\chi=\nu$ lead to the heat up of the Universe.

The potential of inflaton field for the hybrid inflation takes the form $$\label{gibrid_inf_v} V(\varphi,\chi)=\frac12\left(g^2\varphi^2-\mu^2\right)\chi^2+\frac h4\chi^4+U(\varphi)+V_0,$$ where $g$ and $h$ are positive dimensionless constants, $\mu$ is a parameter of dimension of mass, $U(\varphi)$ is the monotonically growing inflaton potential.

### Problem 30

Consider the hybrid inflation model with potential of the form \ref{gibrid_inf_v}, where $U(\varphi=0)=0$ and $U(\varphi)=m^2\varphi^2/2$. The potential $V(\varphi,\chi)$ has maximum at $\varphi=0$, $\chi=\nu=\mu/\sqrt{h}.$ The constant $V_0$ is determined from the requirement that the value at the minimum is zero, resulting in $$V_0=\frac{\mu^4}{4h}.$$ The line $\chi=0$ represents the valley of the potential $V(\varphi, \chi)$ at $\varphi > \varphi_c,$ where $\varphi_c=\mu/g.$ Consider the case when the contribution of the inflaton field to the total energy at the critical value of the former is small $$\label{gibrid_inf_full_energy} U_c\equiv U(\varphi_c)\ll V_0.$$ Obtain the slow-roll parameters under the requirement that inflation endures up to the moment when it rolls down the critical value $\varphi_c$ ($\varphi\gg\varphi_c$), and show that inflation can take place at sub-Planck values of the inflaton field.

### Problem 31

Consider the inflation model of problem \ref{inf_gibrid_1} and obtain the value of $V_{eff}(\chi)$ corresponding to field value $\chi$, at which it starts to roll down to the minimum $\varphi=0$ after the Hubble time $\Delta t \sim H^{-1}(\varphi_c)$ and $\chi = \nu$ after the inflaton reaches the critical value $\varphi_c$.

### Problem 32

Obtain the value $\eta_\chi$ corresponding to the fast roll down of the field $\chi$ along the potential $V_{eff}(\chi)$ (see the previous problem).

### Problem 33

Use the results of problems 30-32, the condition $U_c\equiv U(\varphi_c)\ll V_0$ and assume that the critical value of the inflaton field is small compared to the Planck mass to obtain the chain of inequalities giving the conditions to realize the hybrid inflation scenario.

### Problem 34

Obtain the dependence of the $e$-folding number till the inflation's end on the inflaton field value.

### Problem 35

Obtain relation between $\eta$ and $N_e$ for the hybrid inflation model in the case of quadratic potential.

### Problem 36

Consider the hybrid inflation model with $U_c\sim V_0$. Show that in this case $\varphi_c\gtrsim M_{Pl}.$ What region of the $(\epsilon,\eta)$ plane corresponds to the models of such type?

## Other Types of Inflation

### Problem 37

Formulate the differences between the models of cold and warm inflation.

### Problem 38

The Standard Model of elementary particles allows instability of baryons, which can decay to leptons. But as the rate of the processes violating the baryon number conservation is very low (for example, the proton lifetime $\tau_p\ge10^{30}years$), it is extremely difficult to find experimental proofs of the proton instability. Try to formulate the "inflationary proof" of the proton instability.

### Problem 39

In what way is the inflation theory related to the solution of the problem: why is mathematics so efficient in description of our world and prediction of its evolution?