Dissipative Genesis of the Inflationary Universe

TL;DR

This paper proposes a model where dissipative interactions in the early universe lead to a robust onset of inflation after a quasi-cyclic phase, linking pre-inflationary conditions with observable consequences.

Contribution

It introduces a novel inflationary scenario driven by dissipation, connecting quantum creation, cyclic phases, and the onset of inflation with potential observational signatures.

Findings

Inflation can emerge after a quasi-cyclic phase with repeated expansions and contractions.

Dissipative interactions of the inflaton are crucial for triggering inflation and reheating.

The model aligns with quantum creation conditions and offers observational implications.

Abstract

We study an inflation model with a flat scalar potential supported by observations and find that slow-roll inflation can emerge after a quasi-cyclic phase of the Universe, where it undergoes repeated expansions and contractions for a finite time period. The initial conditions and the positive spatial curvature required for such nontrivial dynamics align with the quantum creation of the Universe. The key ingredients that trigger inflation are dissipative interactions of the inflaton, which are necessary to reheat the Universe after inflation and thus give us an observational handle on pre-inflationary physics. Our discovery implies that inflation occurs more robustly after the creation.