What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to understand the effects of a time-variable cosmological constant on the mass density associated with scalar fields during inflation.

February 1, 1988

Cosmology with a time-variable cosmological 'constant'

Key Points

The research aims to understand the effects of a time-variable cosmological constant on the mass density associated with scalar fields during inflation.
Analyzed the potential V(φ) of a scalar field with a power-law tail at large φ.
Examined the consequences of a time-variable mass density ρphi_ in cosmological models.
Identified that ρphi_ behaves like a cosmological constant that decreases more slowly than matter and radiation densities.
Proposed that an appreciable ρphi_ could reconcile low dynamical estimates with negligible space curvature.

Abstract

If the potential V (φ) of the scalar field that drove inflation had a power-law tail at large φ, V ~ φ^-aplpha^, the mass density, ρphi_, associated with φ would act like a cosmological constant that decreases with time less rapidly than the mass densities of matter and radiation. If ρphi_ were appreciable at the present epoch it could help reconcile the low dynamical estimates of the mean mass density with the negligibly small space curvature preferred by inflation.

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Authors

P. J. E. Peebles

Bharat Ratra

Journals

The Astrophysical Journal

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Cosmology with a time-variable cosmological 'constant'

Key Points

Abstract

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

Authors

Journals

Actions

References and Citations

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

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