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In this work we examine the effects of a pre-inflationary de Sitter bounce on the energy spectrum of the primordial gravitational waves. Specifically we assume that the Universe is described by several evolution patches, starting with a de Sitter pre-inflationary bounce which is followed by an quasi-de Sitter slow-roll inflationary era, followed by a constant equation of state parameter abnormal reheating era, which is followed by the radiation and matter domination eras and the late-time acceleration eras. The bounce and the inflationary era can be realized by vacuum $f(R)$ gravity and the abnormal reheating and the late-time acceleration eras by the synergy of $f(R)$ gravity and the prefect matter fluids present. Using well-known reconstruction techniques we find which $f(R)$ gravity can realize each evolution patch, except from the matter and radiation domination eras which are realized by the corresponding matter fluids. Accordingly, we calculate the damping factor of the primordial de Sitter bounce, and as we show, the signal can be detected by only one gravitational wave future experiment, in contrast to the case in which the bounce is absent. We discuss in detail the consequences of our results and the future perspectives., Comment: Nuclear Physics B in press. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2209.09781

In the present article we showcase how the reheating era can be described properly in the context of Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity assuming that the primordial gravitational waves propagate with the velocity of light. The equations of the duration of reheating along with the reheating temperature are derived and as demonstrated, their expressions are quite similar to the case of a canonical scalar field where now the second derivative of the Gauss-Bonnet scalar coupling function appears and effectively alters the numerical value of the scalar potential. The appearance of such term is reminiscing of a $\lambda R$ model of gravity where $\lambda$ is now dynamical. We consider two viable inflationary models of interest, the former involves an error function as scalar Gauss-Bonnet coupling function and the latter a Woods-Saxon scalar potential. It is shown that for both models the aforementioned quantities can be in agreement with theoretical expectations. The only constraint that is needed is the assumption that the second time derivative of the Gauss-Bonnet scalar coupling function is actually lesser than the Planck mass squared, that is $\ddot\xi, Comment: NPB Accepted

In this work, we shall provide an F (R) gravity theoretical framework for solving the H0-tension. Specif- ically, by exploiting the F (R) gravity correspondence with a scalar-tensor theory, we shall provide a condition in which when it is satisfied, the H0-tension is alleviated. The condition that remedies the H0- tension restricts the corresponding F (R) gravity, and we present in brief the theoretical features of the constrained F (R) gravity theory in both the Jordan and Einstein frames. The condition that may remedy the H0-tension is based on the existence of a metastable de Sitter point that occurs for redshifts near the recombination. This metastable de Sitter vacuum restricts the functional form of the F (R) gravity in the Jordan frame. We also show that by appropriately choosing the F (R) gravity, along with the theoretical solution offered for the H0-tension problem, one may also provide a unified description of the inflationary era with the late-time accelerating era, in terms of two extra de Sitter vacua. We propose a new approach to F (R) gravity by introducing a new class of integral F (R) gravity functions, which may be wider than the usual class expressed in terms of elementary F (R) gravity functions. Finally, the Einstein frame inflationary dynamics formalism is briefly discussed., This work was supported by the JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) No. 18K03615 (S.N.) and MINECO (Spain), project PID2019-104397GB-I00 (S.D.O.). This work by S.D.O. was also partially supported by the program Unidad de Excelencia Maria de Maeztu CEX2020-001058-M, Spain.

In this paper, we study the polarization of a gravitational wave (GW) emitted by an astrophysical source at a cosmic distance propagating through the Friedmann-Lema\^itre-Robertson-Walk universe. By considering the null geodesic deviations, we first provide a definition of the polarization of the GW in terms of the Weyl scalars with respect to a parallelly-transported frame along the null geodesics, and then show explicitly that, due to different effects of the expansion of the universe on the two polarization modes, the so-called "+" and "$\times$" modes, the polarization angle of the GW changes generically, when it is propagating through the curved background. By direct computations of the polarization angle, we show that different epochs, radiation-, matter- and $\Lambda$-dominated, have different effects on the polarization. In particular, for a GW emitted by a binary system, we find explicitly the relation between the change of the polarization angle $|\Delta \varphi|$ and the redshift $z_s$ of the source in different epochs. In the $\Lambda$CDM model, we find that the order of $|\Delta \varphi|{\eta_0 F}$ is typically $O(10^{-3})$ to $O(10^3)$, depending on the values of $z_s$, where $\eta_0$ is the (comoving) time of the current universe, and $F\equiv\Big(\frac{5}{256}\frac{1}{\tau_{obs}}\Big)^{3/8}\left(G_NM_c\right)^{-5/8}$ with $\tau_{obs}$ and $M_c$ being, respectively, the time to coalescence in the observer's frame and the chirp mass of the binary system., Comment: 35 pages, 9 figures,improvements to presentation, references added, and new content added in appendix to comment about gauge invariance, published version in Nuclear Physics B

In this paper we investigate how to describe in a unified way a constant-roll inflationary era with a dark energy era, by using the theoretical framework of $F(R)$ gravity. To this end, we introduce some classes of appropriately chosen $F(R)$ gravity models, and we examine in detail how the unification of early and late-time acceleration eras can be achieved. We study in detail the inflationary era, and as we demonstrate it is possible to achieve a viable inflationary era, for which the spectral index of primordial curvature perturbations and the scalar-to-tensor ratio can be compatible with the latest observational data. In addition, the graceful exit issue is briefly discussed for a class of models. Finally, we discuss the dark energy oscillations issue, and we investigate which model from one of the classes we introduced, can produce oscillations with the smallest amplitude., Nuclear Physics B accepted

The supersymmetric realization of inflation in $F$-term supergravity is usually plagued by the well known "$\eta$" problem. In this paper, a broad class of small-field examples is realized by employing general O' Raifeartaigh superpotentials, where the moduli is identified as the massless inflaton. For illustration we present the simplest example in detail, which can be considered as a generalization of hybrid inflation., Comment: V2: 10 pages, typos corrected, Refs added; V3: More discussion on domain wall and comparison with Hybrid inflation. Citation added

We study the power spectra of f(R) inflation using a new technique in which the norm-squared of the mode functions is evolved. Our technique results in excellent analytic approximations for how the spectra depend upon the function $f(R)$. Although the spectra are numerically the same in the Jordan and Einstein frames for the same wave number $k$, they depend upon the geometries of these frames in quite different ways. For example, the power spectra in the two frames are different functions of the number of e-foldings until end of inflation. We discuss how future data on reheating can be used to distinguish f(R) inflation from scalar-driven inflation., 27 pages, 8 figures, uses LaTeX2e Version 2 slightly revised for publication

In this work, we try to obtain a stable Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) static universe, which is spherically symmetric and radially inhomogeneous. However, this is not an easy task, and fails in general relativity (GR) and various modified gravity theories, because the corresponding LTB static universes must reduce to the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) static universes. We find a way out in a new type of modified gravity theory, in which the conservation of energy and momentum is broken. In this work, we have proposed a novel modification to the original Rastall gravity. In some sense, our Rastall-like gravity is essentially different from GR and the original Rastall gravity. In this Rastall-like gravity, LTB static solutions have been found. The stability of LTB static universe against both the homogeneous and the inhomogeneous scalar perturbations is also discussed in details. We show that a LTB static universe can be stable in this Rastall-like gravity., Comment: 14 pages, revtex4; v2: discussions added, Nucl. Phys. B in press; v3: published version

Nowadays, $f(R)$ theory has been one of the leading modified gravity theories to explain the current accelerated expansion of the universe, without invoking dark energy. It is of interest to find the exact cosmological solutions of $f(R)$ theories. Besides other methods, symmetry has been proved as a powerful tool to find exact solutions. On the other hand, symmetry might hint the deep physical structure of a theory, and hence considering symmetry is also well motivated. As is well known, Noether symmetry has been extensively used in physics. Recently, the so-called Hojman symmetry was also considered in the literature. Hojman symmetry directly deals with the equations of motion, rather than Lagrangian or Hamiltonian, unlike Noether symmetry. In this work, we consider Hojman symmetry in $f(R)$ theories in both the metric and Palatini formalisms, and find the corresponding exact cosmological solutions of $f(R)$ theories via Hojman symmetry. There exist some new solutions significantly different from the ones obtained by using Noether symmetry in $f(R)$ theories. To our knowledge, they also have not been found previously in the literature. This work confirms that Hojman symmetry can bring new features to cosmology and gravity theories., Comment: 16 pages, revtex4; v2: discussions added, Nucl. Phys. B in press; v3: published version. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1505.07546

We embed general $f(R)$ inflationary models in minimal supergravity plus matter, a single chiral superfield $\Phi$, with or without another superfield $S$, via a Jordan frame Einstein+scalar description. In particular, inflationary models like a generalized Starobinsky one are analyzed and constraints on them are found. We also embed the related models of conformal inflation, also described as Jordan frame Einstein+scalar models, in particular the conformal inflation from the Higgs model, and analyze the inflationary constraints on them., Comment: 16 pages, no figures; typos corrected, references added

We present a series of theoretical constraints on the potentially viable inflation models that might yield a blue spectrum for primordial tensor perturbations. By performing a detailed dynamical analysis we show that, while there exists such possibility, the corresponding phase space is strongly bounded. Our result implies that, in order to achieve a blue tilt for inflationary tensor perturbations, one may either construct a non-canonical inflation model delicately, or study the generation of primordial tensor modes beyond the standard scenario of single slow-roll field., (v1) 18 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables; (v2) 12 pages in REVTeX4, to appear in Nuclear Physics B

In this paper we study a class of quintessential Einstein Gauss-Bonnet models, focusing on their early and late-time phenomenology. With regard to the early-time phenomenology, we formalize the slow-roll evolution of these models and we calculate in detail the spectral index of the primordial curvature perturbations and the tensor-to-scalar ratio. As we demonstrate, the resulting observational indices can be compatible with both the Planck and the BICEP2/Keck-Array observational constraints on inflation. With regard to the late-time behavior, by performing a numerical analysis we demonstrate that the class of models for which the coupling function $\xi (\phi)$ to the Gauss-Bonnet scalar satisfies $\xi (\phi)\sim \frac{1}{V(\phi )}$, produce a similar pattern of evolution, which at late-times is characterized by a decelerating era until some critical redshift, at which point the Universe super-decelerates and subsequently accelerates until present time, with a decreasing rate though. The critical redshift crucially depends on the initial conditions chosen for the scalar field and for all the quintessential Einstein Gauss-Bonnet models studied, the late-time era is realized for large values of the scalar field., Comment: NPB Accepted

In a unified picture both inflation and present dynamical dark energy arise from the same scalar field. The history of the Universe describes a crossover from a scale invariant "past fixed point" where all particles are massless, to a "future fixed point" for which spontaneous breaking of the exact scale symmetry generates the particle masses. The cosmological solution can be extrapolated to the infinite past in physical time - the universe has no beginning. This is seen most easily in a frame where particle masses and the Planck mass are field-dependent and increase with time. In this "freeze frame" the Universe shrinks and heats up during radiation and matter domination. In the equivalent, but singular Einstein frame cosmic history finds the familiar big bang description. The vicinity of the past fixed point corresponds to inflation. It ends at a first stage of the crossover. A simple model with no more free parameters than $\Lambda$CDM predicts for the primordial fluctuations a relation between the tensor amplitude $r$ and the spectral index $n,r=8.19(1-n)-0.137$. The crossover is completed by a second stage where the beyond-standard-model sector undergoes the transition to the future fixed point. The resulting increase of neutrino masses stops a cosmological scaling solution, relating the present dark energy density to the present neutrino mass. At present our simple model seems compatible with all observational tests. We discuss how the fixed points can be rooted within quantum gravity in a crossover between ultraviolet and infrared fixed points. Then quantum properties of gravity could be tested both by very early and late cosmology., Comment: Extended discussion of inflation models, 38 pages, 7 figures

In this paper my prime objective is to explain the generation of large tensor-to-scalar ratio from the single field sub-Planckian inflationary paradigm within Randall Sundrum (RS) single braneworld scenario in a model independent fashion. By explicit computation I have shown that the effective field theory prescription of brane inflation within RS single brane setup is consistent with sub- Planckian excursion of the inflaton field, which will further generate large value of tensor-to-scalar ratio, provided the energy density for inflaton degrees of freedom is high enough compared to the brane tension in high energy regime. Finally, I have mentioned the stringent theoretical constraint on positive brane tension, cut-off of the quantum gravity scale and bulk cosmological constant to get sub-Planckian field excursion along with large tensor-to-scalar ratio as recently observed by BICEP2 or at least generates the tensor-to-scalar ratio consistent with the upper bound of Planck (2013 and 2015) data and Planck+BICEP2+Keck Array joint constraint., 20 pages, Revision accepted by Nuclear Physics B

In this work, we study the phenomena of quantum entanglement by computing de Sitter entanglement entropy from von Neumann measure. For this purpose we consider a bipartite quantum field theoretic setup in presence of axion originating from ${\bf Type~ II~B}$ string theory. We consider the initial vacuum to be CPT invariant non-adiabatic $\alpha$ vacua state under ${\bf SO(1,4)}$ ismometry, which is characterized by a real one-parameter family. To implement this technique we use a ${\bf S^2}$ which divide the de Sitter into two exterior and interior sub-regions. First, we derive the wave function of axion in an open chart for $\alpha$ vacua by applying Bogoliubov transformation on the solution for Bunch-Davies vacuum state. Further, we quantify the density matrix by tracing over the contribution from the exterior region. Using this result we derive entanglement entropy, R$\acute{e}$nyi entropy and explain the long-range quantum effects in primordial cosmological correlations. We also provide a comparison between the results obtained from Bunch-Davies vacuum and the generalized $\alpha$ vacua, which implies that the amount of quantum entanglement and the long-range effects are larger for non zero value of the parameter $\alpha$. Most significantly, our derived results for $\alpha$ vacua provides the necessary condition for generating non zero entanglement entropy in primordial cosmology., Comment: 31 pages, 13 figures, Revised version, Accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics B

We extend our investigation of the IR effects on the local dynamics of matter fields in quantum gravity. Specifically we clarify how the IR effects depend on the change of the quantization scheme: different parametrization of the metric and the matter field redefinition. Conformal invariance implies effective Lorentz invariance of the matter system in de Sitter space. An arbitrary choice of the parametrization of the metric and the matter field redefinition does not preserve the effective Lorentz invariance of the local dynamics. As for the effect of different parametrization of the metric alone, the effective Lorentz symmetry breaking term can be eliminated by shifting the background metric. In contrast, we cannot compensate the matter field redefinition dependence by such a way. The effective Lorentz invariance can be retained only when we adopt the specific matter field redefinitions where all dimensionless couplings become scale invariant at the classical level. This scheme is also singled out by unitarity as the kinetic terms are canonically normalized., Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures

We study the multifield inflationary models where the cosmological perturbation is sourced by light scalar fields other than the inflaton. The corresponding perturbations are both scale invariant and special conformally invariant. We exploit the operator product expansion technique of conformal field theories to study the inflationary correlators enjoying the symmetries present during the de Sitter epoch. The operator product expansion is particularly powerful in characterizing inflationary correlation functions in two observationally interesting limits, the squeezed limit of the three-point correlator and the collapsed limit of the four-point correlator. Despite the fact that the shape of the four-point correlators is not fixed by the symmetries of de Sitter, its exact shape can be found in the collapsed limit making use of the operator product expansion. By employing the fact that conformal invariance imposes the two-point cross-correlations of the light fields to vanish unless the fields have the same conformal weights, we are able to show that the Suyama-Yamaguchi inequality relating the coefficients $f_{\rm NL}$ of the bispectrum in the squeezed limit and $\tau_{\rm NL}$ of the trispectrum in the collapsed limit also holds when the light fields are intrinsically non-Gaussian. In fact, we show that the inequality is valid irrespectively of the conformal symmetry, being just a consequence of fundamental physical principles, such as the short-distance expansion of operator products. The observation of a strong violation of the inequality will then have profound implications for inflationary models as it will imply either that multifield inflation cannot be responsible for generating the observed fluctuations independently of the details of the model or that some new non-trivial degrees of freedom play a role during inflation., Comment: 47 pages 3 figures

We discover that some unstable vacua have long memory. By that we mean that even in the theories containing only massive particles, there are correllators and expectation values which grow with time. We examine the cases of instabilities caused by the constant electric fields, expanding and contracting universes and, most importantly, the global de Sitter space. In the last case the interaction leads to a remarkable UV/IR mixing and to a large back reaction. This gives reasons to believe that the cosmological constant problem could be resolved by the infrared physics., 23 pages, references added

We explore in detail the prospects of obtaining a four-dimensional de Sitter universe in classical supergravity models with warped and time-independent extra dimensions, presenting explicit cosmological solutions of the $(4+n)$-dimensional Einstein equations with and without a bulk cosmological constant term. For the first time in the literature we show that there may exist a large class of warped supergravity models with a noncompact extra dimension which lead to a finite 4D Newton constant as well as a massless 4D graviton localised on an inflating four-dimensional FLRW universe. This result helps establish that the `no-go' theorem forbidding acceleration in `standard' compactification of string/M-theory on physically compact spaces should not apply to a general class of warped supergravity models that allows at least one noncompact direction. We present solutions for which the size of the radial dimension takes a constant value in the large volume limit, providing an explicit example of spontaneous compactification., 19 pages, 2 figures; final (journal) version

In the present work, motivated by the work of Cai and Su [Phys. Rev. D {\bf 81}, 103514 (2010)], we propose a new type of interaction in dark sector, which can change its sign when our universe changes from deceleration to acceleration. We consider the cosmological evolution of quintessence and phantom with this type of interaction, and find that there are some scaling attractors which can help to alleviate the cosmological coincidence problem. Our results also show that this new type of interaction can bring new features to cosmology., 11 pages, 6 tables, revtex4; v2: Nucl. Phys. B in press; v3: published version

The possibility that the non-minimal coupling inflation could be eternal is investigated. We calculate the quantum fluctuation of the inflaton in a Hubble time and find that it has the same value as in the minimal case in the slow-roll limit. Armed with this result, we have studied some concrete non-minimal inflationary models including the chaotic inflation and the natural inflation while the inflaton is non-minimally coupled to the gravity and we find that these non-minimal inflations could be eternal in some parameter regions., 9 pages, 2 figures