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Inflaton
 
 
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The inflaton is the generic name of the unidentified scalar field
Scalar field theory

In theoretical physics, scalar field theory can refer to a Classical field theory or Quantum field theory of scalar fields.Such a field is distinguished by its invariance under a Lorentz transformation, hence the name "scalar", in contrast to a vector field or tensor field....
 (and its associated particle) that may be responsible for an episode of inflation
Cosmic inflation

In physical cosmology, cosmic inflation is the hypothesis that the wiktionary:nascent universe passed through a phase of exponential growth metric expansion of space was driven by a negative pressure vacuum energy density....
 in the very early universe
Universe

The universe is defined as everything that physically exists: the entirety of space and time, all forms of matter, energy and momentum, and the physical laws and physical constants that govern them....
. According to inflation theory
Cosmic inflation

In physical cosmology, cosmic inflation is the hypothesis that the wiktionary:nascent universe passed through a phase of exponential growth metric expansion of space was driven by a negative pressure vacuum energy density....
, the inflaton field provided the mechanism to drive a period of rapid expansion
Metric expansion of space

The metric expansion of space is the averaged increase of metric distance between objects in the universe with time. It is an intrinsic and extrinsic properties expansion?that is, it is defined by the relative separation of parts of the universe and not by motion "outward" into preexisting space....
 from 10−35 to 10−34 second
Second

The second , sometimes abbreviated sec., is the name of a units of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units SI base unit of time....
s after the initial expansion
Big Bang

The Big Bang is the physical cosmology model of the initial conditions and subsequent development of the universe supported by the most comprehensive and accurate explanations from current scientific method and observation....
 that formed the universe.

The inflaton field's lowest energy state may or may not be a zero energy state.






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The inflaton is the generic name of the unidentified scalar field
Scalar field theory

In theoretical physics, scalar field theory can refer to a Classical field theory or Quantum field theory of scalar fields.Such a field is distinguished by its invariance under a Lorentz transformation, hence the name "scalar", in contrast to a vector field or tensor field....
 (and its associated particle) that may be responsible for an episode of inflation
Cosmic inflation

In physical cosmology, cosmic inflation is the hypothesis that the wiktionary:nascent universe passed through a phase of exponential growth metric expansion of space was driven by a negative pressure vacuum energy density....
 in the very early universe
Universe

The universe is defined as everything that physically exists: the entirety of space and time, all forms of matter, energy and momentum, and the physical laws and physical constants that govern them....
. According to inflation theory
Cosmic inflation

In physical cosmology, cosmic inflation is the hypothesis that the wiktionary:nascent universe passed through a phase of exponential growth metric expansion of space was driven by a negative pressure vacuum energy density....
, the inflaton field provided the mechanism to drive a period of rapid expansion
Metric expansion of space

The metric expansion of space is the averaged increase of metric distance between objects in the universe with time. It is an intrinsic and extrinsic properties expansion?that is, it is defined by the relative separation of parts of the universe and not by motion "outward" into preexisting space....
 from 10−35 to 10−34 second
Second

The second , sometimes abbreviated sec., is the name of a units of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units SI base unit of time....
s after the initial expansion
Big Bang

The Big Bang is the physical cosmology model of the initial conditions and subsequent development of the universe supported by the most comprehensive and accurate explanations from current scientific method and observation....
 that formed the universe.

The inflaton field's lowest energy state may or may not be a zero energy state. This depends on the chosen potential energy density of the field. Prior to the expansion period, the inflaton field was at a higher energy state. Random quantum fluctuations triggered a phase transition
Phase transition

In thermodynamics, a phase transition is the transformation of a thermodynamic system from one phase to another.At phase-transition point, physical properties may undergo abrupt change- for instance, volume of the two phases may be vastly different....
 whereby the inflaton field released its potential energy as matter and radiation as it settled to its lowest energy state. This action generated a repulsive force that drove the portion of the universe that is observable
Observable universe

In Big Bang cosmology, the observable universe consists of the galaxies and other matter that we can in principle observe from Earth in the present day, because light from those objects has had time to reach us since the beginning of the cosmological expansion....
 to us today to expand from approximately 10−50 metres in radius at 10−35 seconds to almost 1 metre in radius at 10−34 seconds.

The name inflaton is not missing an 'i' in the last syllable. It is spelled that way in order to follow the convention of field names, such as photon field and gluon field, which end with "on".

See also

  • Metric expansion of space
    Metric expansion of space

    The metric expansion of space is the averaged increase of metric distance between objects in the universe with time. It is an intrinsic and extrinsic properties expansion?that is, it is defined by the relative separation of parts of the universe and not by motion "outward" into preexisting space....