The discussion centers on the role of gravity during the inflationary period of the early universe, specifically whether gravity is considered to be "turned off" or functioning differently during this phase. Participants explore the implications of current inflationary models and their interpretations of gravity's behavior in this context.
Participants do not appear to reach a consensus, as there are differing views on the nature of gravity during inflation, with some asserting it was repulsive while others question the implications of current models.
The discussion reflects varying interpretations of gravity's role in inflationary models and does not resolve the underlying assumptions or definitions related to gravity and inflation.
rwmp said:Do the current models of inflation contain an implicit understanding that gravity is some how turned off during the inflationary expansion?
phyzguy said:Actually, far from having been turned off, current theories of inflation say that gravity was actually a repulsive force during inflation, and is what drove inflation. Here is an excellent website by Alan Guth, one of the inventors of inflation theory, that explains at a high level what the theory says.
http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/Guth/Guth_contents.html