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A unified description of inflation, dark energy, and dark matter is presented within a two-scalar-field cosmological model. Inflation, assumed to be of the warm type, is driven by one of the scalar fields, which, shortly after the end of…
In the framework of Supersymmetric Grand Unified Theories (SUSY GUTs), the universe undergoes a cascade of symmetry breakings, during which topological defects can be formed. We address the question of the probability of cosmic string…
The phenomenon of cosmological gravitational particle production (CGPP) is expected to occur during the period of inflation and the transition into a hot big bang cosmology. Particles may be produced even if they only couple directly to…
Observational effects of cosmic string loops depend on how loops are distributed in space. Chernoff \cite{Chernoff} has argued that loops can be gravitationally captured in galaxies and that for sufficiently small values of $G\mu$ their…
We propose a solution to the cosmological monopole problem: Primordial black holes, produced in the early universe, can accrete magnetic monopoles before the relics dominate the energy density of the universe. These small black holes…
In this paper, we show that in the framework of chaotic braneworld inflation, after preheating, the remaining oscillating inflaton field can play the role of dark matter with the observed level. Augmented by a non-zero effective…
(Abridged) Does inflation have to happen all in one go? The answer is a resounding no! All cosmological problems can be solved by a sequence of short bursts of cosmic acceleration, interrupted by short epochs of decelerated expansion. The…
In the early 1990's, an analysis was completed by several theorists of the available mass/cross-section parameter space for unusual particle candidates to solve the dark matter problem, e.g. strongly interacting massive particles (SIMPs).…
This thesis is dedicated to the study of inflationary scenarios based on string theory. Inflation is a brief period of accelerated expansion in the very early Universe which gives natural explanations for problems of the Standard Big Bang…
We consider a model of static cosmic string loops in type IIB string theory, where the strings wrap cycles within the internal space. The strings are not topologically stabilised, however the presence of a lifting potential traps the…
The asymptotic behaviour of two classes of scalar field cosmological models are studied using the theory of dynamical systems: general relativistic Bianchi models containing matter and a scalar field with an exponential potential and a…
Using an approximate likelihood method adapted to band--power estimates, we analyze the ensemble of first generation cosmic microwave background anisotropy experiments to deduce constraints over a six--dimensional parameter space describing…
A cosmological model dominated at the beginning by a dark radiation followed by a period of inflation is presented. This model is based on a Randall-Sundrum II type brane-world. Current observational data are used to fix the parameters…
An axion-like-particle (ALP) in the post-inflationary scenario with domain wall number $N>1$ can be dark matter if the residual $\mathbb{Z}_N$ symmetry has a small explicit breaking. Although we cannot determine the full dynamics of the…
The dominant method of energy loss by a loop of cosmic D-strings in models of warped brane inflation is studied. It is shown that the energy loss via Ramond-Ramond field radiation can dominate by many orders of magnitude over the energy…
At its very beginning, the universe is believed to have grown exponentially in size via the mechanism of inflation. The almost scale-invariant density perturbation spectrum predicted by inflation is strongly supported by cosmological…
In the brane-world scenario with low tension, brane fluctuations (branons) together with the Standard Model particles are the only relevant degrees of freedom at low energies. Branons are stable, weakly interacting, massive particles and…
Cosmic string networks generate cosmological perturbations actively throughout the history of the universe. Thus, the string sourced anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background is not affected by Silk damping as much as the anisotropy…
Quintessential inflation provides a unified description of the early and late accelerated phases of the Universe, linking the inflationary epoch to the present-day dark energy-dominated era through a single scalar degree of freedom. In this…
We explore the different possibilities for branons as dark matter candidates. We consider a general brane-world model, parametrized by the number of extra dimensions $N$, the fundamental scale of gravity $M_D$, the brane tension scale $f$…