Warm Inflation and its Microphysical Basis

TL;DR

This paper reviews the microphysical quantum field theory foundations of warm inflation, detailing its dynamics, predictions, and particle physics models, with a focus on dissipation and fluctuations at finite temperature.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive derivation of dissipation coefficients and discusses various particle physics models for warm inflation with their observational implications.

Findings

Derived dissipation coefficients for multiple quantum field interactions

Compared warm inflation predictions with cold inflation scenarios

Presented particle physics models consistent with warm inflation

Abstract

The microscopic quantum field theory origins of warm inflation dynamics are reviewed. The warm inflation scenario is first described along with its results, predictions and comparison with the standard cold inflation scenario. The basics of thermal field theory required in the study of warm inflation are discussed. Quantum field theory real time calculations at finite temperature are then presented and the derivation of dissipation and stochastic fluctuations are shown from a general perspective. Specific results are given of dissipation coefficients for a variety of quantum field theory interaction structures relevant to warm inflation, in a form that can readily be used by model builders. Different particle physics models realising warm inflation are presented along with their observational predictions.