The pre-big bang scenario in string cosmology

The purpose of this review is to discuss recent developments occurring at the interface of cosmology with string and M theory. We begin with a short review of 1980s string cosmology and the Brandenberger–Vafa mechanism for explaining space–time dimensionality. It is shown how this scenario has been modified to include the effects of p-brane gases in the early universe. We then introduce the Pre-Big-Bang scenario (PBB), Hořava–Witten heterotic M theory and the work of Lukas, Ovrut and Waldram, and end with a discussion of large extra dimensions, the Randall–Sundrum model and Brane World cosmologies.

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Stranger things: multiverse, string cosmology, physical eschatology

The Oxford Handbook of the History of Modern Cosmology ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198817666.013.12 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 464-496

Author(s):

Milan M. Ćirković

Keyword(s):

Big Bang ◽

String Cosmology ◽

The Other ◽

Research Activity ◽

Eternal Inflation ◽

The Future ◽

Anthropic Reasoning ◽

M Theory ◽

Infinite Set

The period (roughly) 1990-today is characterized by a big watershed and branching of cosmology into multiple and hitherto unexpected directions. On one side, the generic chaotic/eternal inflation has provided physical grounds for rather wild speculative ideas about the multiverse: the possibly infinite set of cosmological domains (‘universes’). In order to determine how observed features of our universe are (im)probable in the multiverse context requires application of anthropic reasoning which is still controversial in many circles. On the other side, we encounter applications of other speculative physical theories, like the string/M-theory to cosmology, resulting in unusual hypotheses like those of the pre-Big Bang cosmologies. In this period we have also witnessed the birth of physical eschatology as the true ‘cosmology of the future’. This chapter will attempt a survey of these and related developments, with necessary qualifications which accompany any ongoing, evolving research activity.

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COMPACTIFICATION OF TYPE IIB THEORY WITH FLUXES AND AXION–DILATON STRING COSMOLOGY

International Journal of Modern Physics A ◽

10.1142/s0217751x10050111 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (18n19) ◽

pp. 3797-3816 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

EIJI KONISHI ◽

JNANADEVA MAHARANA

Keyword(s):

Effective Action ◽

Big Bang ◽

String Cosmology ◽

Invariant Form ◽

Cosmological Solutions

Compactification of type IIB theory on torus, in the presence of fluxes, is considered. The reduced effective action is expressed in manifestly S-duality invariant form. Cosmological solutions of the model are discussed in several cases in the Pre-Big Bang scenario.

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Pre-big-bang in string cosmology

10.1063/1.56633 ◽

1998 ◽

Author(s):

Mónica Borunda ◽

M. Ruiz Altaba

Keyword(s):

Big Bang ◽

String Cosmology

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STRING COSMOLOGY

International Journal of Modern Physics A ◽

10.1142/s0217751x00000768 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 15 (12) ◽

pp. 1707-1756 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G. V. KRANIOTIS

Keyword(s):

String Theory ◽

Modular Forms ◽

Big Bang ◽

String Cosmology ◽

Target Space ◽

Modular Invariant ◽

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle ◽

Duality Symmetry ◽

Cosmological Inflation ◽

String Models

In this work, we review recent work on string cosmology. The need for an inflationary era is well known. Problems of Standard Cosmology such as horizon, flatness, monopole and entropy find an elegant solution in the inflationary scenario. On the other hand no adequate inflationary model has been constructed so far. In this review we discuss the attempts that have been made in the field of string theory for obtaining an adequate Cosmological Inflationary Epoch. In particular, orbifold compactifications of string theory which are constrained by target-space duality symmetry offer as natural candidates for the role of inflatons the orbifold moduli. Orbifold moduli dynamics is very constrained by duality symmetry and offers a concrete framework for discussing Cosmological Inflation. We discuss the resulting cosmology assuming that nonperturbative dynamics generates a moduli potential which respects target-space modular invariance. Various modular forms for the nonperturbative superpotential and Kähler potential which include the absolute modular invariant j(T) besides the Dedekind eta function η(T) are discussed. We also review scale-factor duality and pre-Big-Bang scenarios in which inflation is driven by the kinetic terms of the dilaton modulus. In this context we discuss the problem of graceful exit and review recent attempts for solving the problem of exiting from inflation. The possibility of obtaining inflation through the D-terms in string models with anomalous UA(1) and other Abelian factors is reviewed. In this context we discuss how the slow-roll problem in supergravity models with F-term inflation can be solved by D-term inflation. We also briefly review the consequences of duality for a generalized Heisenberg uncertainty principle and the structure of space–time at short scales. The problem of the Cosmological Constant is also briefly discussed.

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