Inflationary models based on conformal symmetry

Touwen, A. (2016) Inflationary models based on conformal symmetry. Bachelor's Thesis, Physics.

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Abstract

This thesis provides a general overview of inflation, leading to a conformal inflation model, consistent with the common predictions for the observables in the Cosmic Microwave Background related to inflation. A short introduction to Big Bang expansion is provided. The horizon and flatness problem are described and it is shown how a decreasing Hubble radius, predicted by inflation, provides a solution to these problems in the Big Bang theory. A derivation of the slow-roll parameters based on the Friedmann equations is provided. The implications of freeze in of quantum fluctuations in the inflaton field are shown and the resulting observables in the CMB, the spectral indices for both scalar and tensor power-spectrum, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio, are derived. The recent observational constraints by the Planck satellite on these parameters are described, including implications for the credibility of some models. An introduction in Conformal Field Theory is provided and a model for inflation based on conformal symmetry is suggested involving a SO(1,1) field combination of conformal field and inflaton field. The SO(1,1) symmetry is broken and a general potential is introduced. In the large field expansion the prediction for the observables of this class of models are derived to be in accordance with recent observations.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Degree programme:	Physics
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2018 08:14
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2018 08:14
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/14291

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