Related papers: New universal attractor in nonmininally coupled gr…
We consider a modified gravity framework for inflation by adding to the Einstein-Hilbert action a direct $f(\phi)T$ term, where $\phi$ is identified as the inflaton and $T$ is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor. The framework goes to…
The continual production of gravitons during inflation endows loop corrections with secular logarithms which grow nonperturbatively large during a prolonged period of inflation. The physics behind these effects is reviewed, along with a…
We study inflation induced by (power-low) scalar curvature corrections to General Relativity. The class of inflationary scalar potentials $V(\sigma)\sim\exp[n\,\sigma]$, $n$ general parameter, is investigated in the Einsein frame and the…
It is well known that large Hubble-induced supergravity corrections to the inflaton field can ruin the flatness of the potential, thus creating a tension between slow-roll inflation and supergravity. In this paper we show that it is…
We study inflationary scenarios driven by a scalar field in the presence of a non-minimal coupling between matter and curvature. We show that the Friedmann equation can be significantly modified when the energy density during inflation…
In this work we investigate a inflationary scenario generated by a large scalar field $\phi$ that non-minimally couples to a $f(R)$ modified gravity model. For a Starobinsky's like model, it is found that along a particular flat direction,…
We consider a general chaotic inflation model with non-canonical kinetic term, resulting in attractor solutions for the inflation of quadratic or other monomial type. In particular, the form of the kinetic term and the potential is fixed…
A new setup of cosmic inflation with a periodic inflaton potential and conformal factor is discussed in the metric and Palatini formulations of gravity. As a concrete example, we focus on a natural-inflation-like inflaton potential, and…
A field kinetic coupling with the Einstein tensor leads to a gravitationally enhanced friction during inflation, by which even steep potentials with theoretically natural model parameters can drive cosmic acceleration. In the presence of…
We show that the coexistence of a non-minimal coupling to gravity $f_{\mathcal{R}}=1+c{\mathcal{R}} \phi^{n/2}$ with a kinetic mixing of the form $f_K = f_{\mathcal{R}}^m$ -- where $n=2$ and 4 and $0.5 \le m \le 10$ -- reconciles chaotic…
Inflation is often described through the dynamics of a scalar field, slow-rolling in a suitable potential. Ultimately, this inflaton must be identified as the expectation value of a quantum field, evolving in a quantum effective potential.…
We study single-field slow-roll inflation embedded in Palatini $F(R)$ gravity where $F(R)$ grows faster than $R^2$. Surprisingly, the consistency of the theory requires the Jordan frame inflaton potential to be unbounded from below. Even…
We develop a new class of chaotic inflation models with spontaneously broken conformal invariance. Observational consequences of a broad class of such models are stable with respect to strong deformations of the scalar potential. This…
We study Quadratic Inflation with the inflaton field $\phi$ coupled non-minimally to the curvature scalar $R$, so that the potential during inflation is of the form $V\propto m^2\phi^2+\xi R\phi^2$. We show that with a suitable choice of…
The Palatini formulation of the Starobinsky model does not yield a propagating scalaron that can assume the role of the inflaton field as in the conventional metric formulation. In the so-called Palatini-${R}^2$ models this role is assumed…
In this paper we derive the Modified Friedmann equation in the Palatini formulation of $R^2$ gravity. Then we use it to discuss the problem of whether in Palatini formulation a $R^2$ term can drive an inflation. We show that the Palatini…
We calculate the quantum gravitational corrections to the Mukhanov-Sasaki equation obtained by the canonical quantization of the inflaton-gravity system. Our approach, which is based on the Born-Oppenheimer decomposition of the resulting…
We propose a class of inflation models in which the coefficient of the inflaton kinetic term rapidly changes with energy scale. This may occur especially if the inflaton moves over a long distance during inflation as in the case of…
We put forward novel extensions of Starobinsky inflation, involving a class of 'geometric' higher-curvature corrections that yield second-order Friedmann-Lema\^itre equations and second-order-in-time linearized equations around cosmological…
The oscillating inflation model recently proposed by Damour and Mukhanov is investigated with a non-minimal coupling. Numerical study confirms an inflationary behavior and the density perturbation is obtained. A successful inflation…