Inflation from Quantum Geometry

TL;DR

Quantum geometry naturally induces an inflationary phase in the early universe and explains the smallness of current cosmic acceleration without extra matter fields, through quantum gravity modifications.

Contribution

This paper demonstrates that quantum geometry effects cause inflation and current acceleration without additional matter fields or ad hoc potentials.

Findings

Universe undergoes inflation due to quantum geometry effects.

Quantum gravity modifications explain tiny present-day acceleration.

Inflation occurs at small volume before transitioning to standard cosmology.

Abstract

Quantum geometry predicts that a universe evolves through an inflationary phase at small volume before exiting gracefully into a standard Friedmann phase. This does not require the introduction of additional matter fields with ad hoc potentials; rather, it occurs because of a quantum gravity modification of the kinetic part of ordinary matter Hamiltonians. An application of the same mechanism can explain why the present-day cosmological acceleration is so tiny.