Leading Gravitational Corrections and a Unified Universe

TL;DR

This paper proposes that leading gravitational corrections, both local and non-local, can unify the early inflationary epoch and the current dark energy-driven acceleration within a single covariant effective field theory framework.

Contribution

It introduces a unified model where leading UV and IR gravitational corrections explain both inflation and dark energy in a consistent manner.

Findings

Local correction induces early universe inflation

Non-local correction causes late-time acceleration

Framework connects UV and IR gravitational effects

Abstract

Leading order gravitational corrections to the Einstein-Hilbert action can lead to a consistent picture of the universe by unifying the epochs of inflation and dark energy in a single framework. While the leading local correction induces an inflationary phase in the early universe, the leading non-local term leads to an accelerated expansion of the universe at the present epoch. We argue that both the leading UV and IR terms can be obtained within the framework of a covariant effective field theory of gravity. The perturbative gravitational corrections therefore provide a fundamental basis for understanding a possible connection between the two epochs.