Rescaling the equation of motion of inflation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the rescaling of the equation of motion for inflation, specifically focusing on making the differential equation dimensionless and determining the dimensions of the inflaton field. Participants explore the implications of initial conditions for the inflaton field and its dynamics during the early stages of inflation.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the equation of motion for inflation and seeks to rescale it to make it dimensionless, questioning how to handle the mass term in the potential.
  • Another participant notes the necessity of two initial conditions for solving the differential equations and suggests that the potential should dominate in the early stages of inflation, implying that the time derivative of the inflaton field should be small.
  • A third participant emphasizes the importance of considering both kinetic and pressure potentials to achieve dimensionless parameters, referencing the equation of state in cosmology.
  • A later reply states that the inflaton field has dimension m in 3+1 dimensions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the treatment of the mass term in the rescaling process and the appropriate initial conditions for the inflaton field. There is no consensus on how to resolve these issues, indicating ongoing debate.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for specific initial conditions and the role of different potentials, but these aspects remain unresolved and depend on further clarification of definitions and assumptions.

shinobi20
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From the equation of motion of inflation, $$\frac{d^2\phi}{dt^2} + 3H\frac{d\phi}{dt} + \frac{dV}{d\phi} = 0$$ Example: ##V= \frac{1}{2}m^2\phi^2##
$$\frac{d^2\phi}{dt^2} + 3H\frac{d\phi}{dt} + m^2\phi = 0$$
If I want to make the DE dimensionless then I let ##~t = \frac{1}{H_o} \tilde t~## and ##~H = H_o \tilde H~## then,
$$H_o^2 \frac{d^2\phi}{d\tilde t^2} + 3H_o^2\tilde H \frac{d\phi}{d\tilde t} + m^2\phi = 0$$
But the last term has ##m^2## in it, so how can I rescale this DE such that every term would be dimensionless? Also, what is the dimension of ##~\phi~##(inflaton)?
 
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[Moderator's note: moved from a separate thread to this one since the topic is the same. Also edited to delete duplicate content.]

Another question:

To solve this differential equations, we need two initial value conditions, ##\phi(0) = ?\,## and ##\dot \phi(0) = ?\,##. But I don't know what they should be, I know that in the early stages of inflation, the potential ##V## should be dominant so I think ##\dot \phi(0)## should be small?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Did you look at my reply in your other thread?

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/different-forms-of-energy-density-in-inflation.900158/

you keep missing the detail that there is two potentials involved. One for kinetic the other for pressure. In order to get your dimension
less parameter which I assume is w you require both terms. w=p/\rho

Look at the equation's of state (Cosmology) see the section on scalar modelling.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equation_of_state_(cosmology)

Here some additional examples see equations 1.36 to 1.39
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwi67MqH0dPRAhVH4mMKHf9vBhgQFgggMAE&url=http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/pls/portallive/docs/1/56439.PDF&usg=AFQjCNFCbq4LLlR6366LhUvr8T_y6_f0eA&sig2=n5C7FRMAGfPcq5gYfq4hMw

The formulas showing action via those equation's are included
 
Last edited:
The inflaton has dimension m in 3+1 dimensions.
 

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