String cosmology versus standard and inflationary cosmology

TL;DR

This paper compares string cosmology's pre-big bang scenario with standard inflationary cosmology, highlighting their conceptual differences without heavy technical details, encouraging reader reflection.

Contribution

It provides a conceptual, non-technical comparison of string cosmology and inflationary models, emphasizing their fundamental differences.

Findings

Highlights differences between pre-big bang and inflationary scenarios

Avoids technical details to focus on conceptual understanding

Raises questions for further contemplation

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the basic, model-independent differences between the pre-big bang scenario, arising naturally in a string cosmology context, and the standard inflationary scenario. We use an unconventional approach in which the introduction of technical details is avoided as much as possible, trying to focus the reader's attention on the main conceptual aspects of both scenarios. The aim of the paper is not to conclude in favour either of one or of the other scenario, but to raise questions that are left to the reader's meditation. Warnings: the paper does not contain equations, and is not intended as a complete review of all aspects of string cosmology.