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April 22nd: Wynton Moore (UChicago)

Modeling quantum gravity effects in inflation
In this talk I will discuss the quantum structure of slow-roll inflation. Various examples in 3+1 and 1+1 dimensions show that the standard arguments leading to slow-roll eternal inflation (SREI) are not invariant under field redefinitions. A particular case in 1+1d, which by standard arguments should exhibit SREI, is related by a field redefinition to pure Liouville gravity coupled to a free scalar matter field. Aspects of the non-perturbative quantization of Liouville theory will be discussed, and quantum fluctuations of the scale factor will be seen to prevent SREI in this model.

Time: 2 p.m.
Place: 4N12

Date of event: 
Tue, 2014-04-22 (All day)