Phantom inflation and the "Big Trip"

TL;DR

This paper explores a speculative scenario where a phantom-driven inflationary universe transitions smoothly to a radiation-filled universe via a 'big trip' in a multiverse context, addressing exit problems of phantom inflation.

Contribution

It proposes a novel multiverse-based mechanism allowing a smooth exit from phantom inflation through a 'big trip' transition.

Findings

The 'big trip' can potentially resolve the exit problem of phantom inflation.

A multiverse scenario facilitates a transition from phantom to radiation-dominated universe.

Anthropic principles may select our universe as the endpoint of this transition.

Abstract

Primordial inflation is regarded to be driven by a phantom field which is here implemented as a scalar field satisfying an equation of state $p=\omega\rho$, with $\omega<-1$. Being even aggravated by the weird properties of phantom energy, this will pose a serious problem with the exit from the inflationary phase. We argue however in favor of the speculation that a smooth exit from the phantom inflationary phase can still be tentatively recovered by considering a multiverse scenario where the primordial phantom universe would travel in time toward a future universe filled with usual radiation, before reaching the big rip. We call this transition the "big trip" and assume it to take place with the help of some form of anthropic principle which chooses our current universe as being the final destination of the time transition.