Duration of inflation and conditions at the bounce as a prediction of effective isotropic loop quantum cosmology

Linda Linsefors and Aurelien Barrau
Phys. Rev. D 87, 123509 – Published 10 June 2013

Abstract

Loop quantum cosmology with a scalar field is known to be closely linked with an inflationary phase. In this article, we study probabilistic predictions for the duration of slow-roll inflation, by assuming a minimalist massive scalar field as the main content of the Universe. The phase of the field in its “prebounce” oscillatory state is taken as a natural random parameter. We find that the probability for a given number of inflationary e-folds is quite sharply peaked around 145, which is consistent with the most favored minimum values. In this precise sense, a satisfactory inflation is therefore a clear prediction of loop gravity. In addition, we derive an original and stringent upper limit on the Barbero-Immirzi parameter. The general picture of inflation, superinflation, deflation, and superdeflation is also much clarified in the framework of bouncing cosmologies.

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  • Received 2 January 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.87.123509

© 2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Linda Linsefors* and Aurelien Barrau

  • Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie, UJF, INPG, CNRS, IN2P3 53, Avenue des Martyrs, 38026 Grenoble Cedex, France

  • *linsefors@lpsc.in2p3.fr
  • Aurelien.Barrau@cern.ch

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Vol. 87, Iss. 12 — 15 June 2013

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