Holographic (Eternal) Inflation

TL;DR

This paper proposes a holographic model of eternal inflation using complex deformations of ABJM theory, linking quantum field theory, cosmology, and swampland conjectures to understand the universe's quantum state.

Contribution

It introduces a minisuperspace of complex deformations of ABJM theory that models an eternally inflating universe holographically, connecting it with swampland and cobordism conjectures.

Findings

The boundary theory predicts a Hartle-Hawking no-boundary state for the bulk.

The model reveals a connection between swampland conjectures and the wave function of the universe.

The holographic approach provides insights into the quantum state of an inflating universe.

Abstract

We identify a minisuperspace of complex deformations of ABJM theory for which the partition function specifies the amplitude of an eternally inflating universe. The boundary theory predicts that the bosonic bulk is effectively in the Hartle-Hawking no-boundary state, with a subleading 'tunneling' contribution. This holographic model of inflation also reveals a close connection between the swampland distance and cobordism conjectures, and the condition for the asymptotic wave function to predict classical behavior in geometry and fields.