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Quantum Fluctuations in the Inflationary Universe

Sang Pyo Kim
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Abstract

The recent three-year WMAP data selects large-field models with certain power-law potentials and small-field models for all power-law potentials as consistent inflation models. We study the large-field and small-field inflation model with a quadratic and a quartic potential within the framework of quantum field theory in an expanding Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe. We find that quantum fluctuations in the small-field model lead to a significant contribution to the effective potential and may have non-negligible effects on the slow-roll parameters predicted by classical theory.

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Sang Pyo Kim. 2007-01-13. Quantum Fluctuations in the Inflationary Universe. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0217732307025145

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