Scalar fields and the inflationary phase of the cosmic evolution
Abstract
Scalar fields are an important ingredient of modern cosmological models describing the very early universe. If they are of the Higgs field type, scalar fields offer a possibility to understand why the cosmological constant is such a small quantity. This is because of the fact that different ground states are possible for a Higgs field. The unstable ground state gives an inflationary stage of the cosmic evolution and a large cosmological constant whereas the stable ground state has a vanishing cosmological constant and is decisive for the late time behaviour with an Einstein-De Sitter-like expansion law.
- Publication:
-
Astronomische Nachrichten
- Pub Date:
- 1988
- DOI:
- 10.1002/asna.2113090415
- Bibcode:
- 1988AN....309..259K
- Keywords:
-
- Cosmology;
- Phase Transformations;
- Plancks Constant;
- Relativistic Theory;
- Field Theory (Physics);
- Scalars;
- Universe;
- Astrophysics