Are we seeing the beginnings of Inflation?

TL;DR

This paper explores a cyclic phantom cosmology model linking low-energy dark energy to high-energy inflation, suggesting that interactions can prevent singularities and produce inflationary phases.

Contribution

It introduces a novel cyclic model where phantom energy density cycles and transitions to inflation, avoiding singularities through matter interactions.

Findings

Energy density cycles through different cosmological phases.

Interactions prevent the Big Rip singularity.

Model naturally transitions to inflationary expansion.

Abstract

Phantom Cosmology provides an unique opportunity to "connect" the phantom driven (low en- ergy meV scale) dark energy phase to the (high energy GUT scale) inflationary era. This is possible because the energy density increases in phantom cosmology. We present a concrete model where the energy density, but not the scale factor, cycles through phases of standard radiation/matter domi- nation followed by dark energy/inflationary phases, and the pattern repeating itself. An interesting feature of the model is that once we include interactions between the "phantom fluid" and ordinary matter, the Big rip singularity is avoided with the phantom phase naturally giving way to a near exponential inflationary expansion.