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We consider quantum field theory in de Sitter space, focusing on the cases of scalars, spin 1/2 fields, and symmetric and anti-symmetric tensor fields of arbitrary spin. The free field equations in global coordinates can be reduced to a one…
We consider phase transitions on (eternal) de Sitter in an O(N) symmetric scalar field theory. Making use of Starobinsky's stochastic inflation we prove that deep infrared scalar modes cannot form a condensate -- and hence they see an…
Recently, we introduced an ekpyrotic model based on a single, canonical scalar field that generates nearly scale invariant curvature fluctuations through a purely "adiabatic mechanism" in which the background evolution is a dynamical…
For the first time, we investigate the non-perturbative dynamics of single field inflation with a departure from slow-roll. Using simulations, we find that oscillatory features in the potential can drastically alter the course of inflation,…
There is considerable interest in inflationary models with multiple inflaton fields. The inflaton field $\boldsymbol\phi$ that has been postulated to drive accelerating expansion in the very early universe has a corresponding potential $V$,…
Quintessence models leading to a constant equation of state are studied in hyperbolic universes. General properties of the quintessence potentials V(phi) are discussed, and for some special cases also the exact analytic expressions for…
We propose a dark energy model in which a quintessence field $\phi$ rolls near the vicinity of a local maximum of its potential characterized by the simplest $S$ self-dual form $V(\phi) = \Lambda \ {\rm sech}(\sqrt{2} \, \phi/M_p)$, where…
We study the evolution of spatial curvature for thawing class of dark energy models. We examine the evolution of the equation of state parameter, $w_\phi$, as a function of the scale factor $a$, for the case in which the scalar field $\phi$…
In this work, we study early-time inflation within a class of $f(R, \phi, X)$ gravity models under a constant-roll condition. Employing a generalized potential of the form $V(\phi)^\sigma$, we derive expressions for the spectral index $n_s$…
Oscillons in a simple, 1-dimensional scalar field theory with a cubic potential are discussed. The theory has a classical sphaleron, whose decay generates a version of the oscillon. A good approximation to the small-amplitude oscillon is…
The cosmological particle production in a $k=0$ expanding de Sitter universe with a Hubble parameter $H_0$ is considered for various values of mass or conformal coupling of a free, scalar field. One finds that, for a minimally coupled field…
We study a string-motivated theoretical prior on the quintessential dark energy model with exponential potential, \( V(\phi) = V_0 e^{-\lambda \phi} \), allowing for non-zero spatial curvature. First, we formulate the corresponding…
A weakly coupled scalar field $\Phi$ with a simple exponential potential $V=M_P^4\exp(-\lambda\Phi/M_P)$ where $M_P$ is the reduced Planck mass, and $\lambda > 2$, has an attractor solution in a radiation or matter dominated universe in…
We study the cosmology of a general scalar field and barotropic fluid during the early stage of a brane-world where the Friedmann constraint is dominated by the square of the energy density. Assuming both the scalar field and fluid are…
We present a model where the inflaton field behaves like quintessence at late times, generating the present phase of accelerated expansion. This is achieved within the framework of warm inflation, in particular the Warm Little Inflaton…
During de Sitter inflation massless particles of minimally coupled scalar fields acquire a mass and a decay width thereby becoming \emph{quasiparticles}. For bare massless particles non-perturbative infrared radiative corrections lead to a…
We analyze the asymptotic behavior of quantum fields and perturbative quantum gravity in de Sitter space. We show that the necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a de Sitter invariant vacuum state in the free theory is if…
We present a new approach to constructing inflationary models in closed universes. Conformal embedding of closed-universe models in a de Sitter background suggests a quantisation condition on the available conformal time. This condition…
We derive slow-roll conditions for thawing k-essence with a separable Lagrangian $p(X,\phi)=F(X)V(\phi)$. We examine the evolution of the equation of state parameter, $w$, as a function of the scale factor $a$, for the case where $w$ is…
We analyse theories that do not have a de Sitter vacuum and cannot lead to slow-roll quintessence, but which nevertheless support a transient era of accelerated cosmological expansion due to interactions between a scalar $\phi$ and either a…