# I introduction

## I introduction

For the past nearly twenty years, two major theories, inflation and topological defects to the early universe pressing problems seem to have stood the test of time and one current goal is to determine which if any best fits the increasingly accumulated astrophysics data, especially the COBE’s cosmic microwave background anisotropy detections as well as the soon lauched more accuracy MAP and PLANCK observations, and more reasonably interprete the origin of the Universe large scale structures. They usually are regarded as mutually exclusive theories in that defects formed before a period of inflation would rapidly be diluted to such a degree during the inflationary era as to make them of little interest to cosmology. But in some inflation models inspired from particle physics considerations the formation of topological defects can be naturally obtained at the end of the inflationary period. On the other side, as is widely supposed, the initial conditions for the successful hot big bang are set by inflation, and then an adiabatic, Gaussian and more or less scale invariant density perturbation spectrum at horizon entry is predicted. Such a perturbation is generated by the vacuum fluctuation during inflation so the dazzling prospect of a window on the fundamental interactions on scales approaching the Planck energy appears. The studying of inflation paradigm will help us to understand basic physics laws to the possibly highest scale in the Nature.

The inflationary Universe scenario has the universe undergoing a period of accelerated expansion, the effect originally being to dilute monopoles (and any other defect formed before this period) outside of the observable universe, thereby dramatically reducing their density to below the observable limits. In a homogeneous, isotropic Universe with a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) metric described by a scale factor a(t), the acceleration is given via

$$\ddot{a}=a(4\pi G/3)(\rho +3p)$$
(1)   
where $`\rho `$ is the energy density and p the pressure. Usually the energy density which drives inflation is identified with a scalar potential energy density that is positive, and flat enough to result in an effective equation of state

$$\rho pV(\varphi )$$
(2)   
satisfying the acceleration condition $`\ddot{a}>0`$.

The scalar potential is associated with a scalar field known as the so-called inflaton. During the inflationary period, the inflaton potential is fairly flat in the direction the field evolves, dominating the ennergy density of the universe for a finite period of time. Over the period it evolves slowly towards a minimum of the potential either through a classical roll over or through a quantum mechanics tunnelling transition. Inflation then ends when the inflaton starts to execute decaying oscillations around its own vacuum value, and the hot Big Bang (reheating) ensues when the vacuum value has been achieved and the decay products have thermalised. Over the past decades there have been lots of inflation models constructed and there shall be certainly more with the coming of MAP and PLANCK satellites missions. With our knowledge so far we understand that any reasonable inflation model should satisfy at least that COBE normalization, cosmology observations constraint to the spectral index and adequate e-folding inflation for consistence requirements. In this line, the running-mass models of inflation without quartic term is studied and we will discuss a general tree-level inflation model, especially the constraint to the quartic term self-coupling constant.

This paper is arranged as following. In next section we give a general comments on the properties of inflaton potential, which must satisfy the COBE normalization condition besides the flatness conditions. In section three we examine detailly a tree-level hybrid inflation potential model, which can be regarded as a generalization of previously fully discussed some inflation models. We use the slow-roll approximation to derive an analytic expression for the e-folds number N between a given epoch and the end of slow-roll inflation, and derive the spectral index of the spectrum of the curvature perturbation of this model. Confronted them with the COBE measurement of the spectrum on large scales ( the normalization), the required e-folds number N and the observational constraint on the spectrum index over the whole range of cosmological scales, we give the coupling constant of the inflaton model an allowed region, to specify its parameter space by reducing its two free parameters to one . Finally we give a discussion and conclusion.

## II general considerations on Inflation model

Cosmological inflation has been regarded as the most elegant solution to the horizon and flatness problems of the standard Big Bang universe. If considering the later stage thermal inflation it also beautifully solve the moduli problems. Even though it explains successfully why the current Universe appears so homogenous and flat in a very natural manner, it has been difficult to construct a model of inflation without a small parameter(the fine-tunning problem). The key point is to have a resonable scalar field potential either from a more underlying gravity theory like effective superstring thery or from a more fundmental particle physics theory such as supergravity or the so-called M-theory. In fact to any case, one needs at least a scalar field component(inflaton) that rolls down the potential very slowly with enough e-folds number to successfully generate a viable inflationary scenario. This requires the potential to be almost flat in the direction of the inflaton. There are lots of inflation models constructed so far. If gravitation wave contribution is negligible, at least for the present situation, the curvature perturbation spectrum index is the most powerful discriminator to inflation models. In this section we discuss the general properties of an inflaton potential with the astrophysics considerations. In the effective slow-roll inflation scheme as physics requirments, the general inflaton potential $`V(\varphi )`$ must satisfy the flatness conditions

$$ϵ1$$
(3)   
and

$$|\eta |1$$
(4)   
where the notations

$`ϵ`$ $``$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}M_{\mathrm{Pl}}^2(V^{}/V)^2`$ (5)   
$`\eta `$ $``$ $`M_{\mathrm{Pl}}^2V^{\prime \prime }/V`$ (6)   
the prime indicates differiential with respect to $`\varphi `$ and $`M_{\mathrm{Pl}}=(8\pi G)^{1/2}=2.4\times 10^{18}\text{GeV}`$ is the reduced Planck mass(scale). When these are satisfied, the time dependence of the inflaton $`\varphi `$ is generally given by the slow-roll expression

$$3H\dot{\varphi }=V^{},$$
(7)   
where the quantity

$$H\sqrt{\frac{1}{3}M_{\mathrm{Pl}}^2V}$$
(8)   
is the Hubble parameter during inflation. On a given scale, the spectrum of the primordial curvature perturbation, thought to be the origin of structure in the Universe, is given by

$$\delta _H^2(k)=\frac{1}{150\pi ^2M_{\mathrm{Pl}}^4}\frac{V}{ϵ}$$
(9)   
The right hand side is evaluated when the relevant scale $`k`$ leaves the horizon. On large scales, the COBE observation of the Cosmic Microwave Background(CMB) anisotropy corresponds to

$$V^{1/4}/ϵ^{1/4}=.027M_{\mathrm{Pl}}=6.7\times 10^{16}\text{GeV}$$
(10)   
The spectral index of the primordial curvature perturbation is given by

$$n1=2\eta 6ϵ$$
(11)   
A perfectly scale-independent spectrum would correspond to $`n=1`$, and observation already demands

$$|n1|<0.2$$
(12)   
Thus $`ϵ`$ and $`\eta `$ have to be $`0.1`$ (barring a cancellation) and this constraint will get much tighter if future observations, such as the near future MAP and PLANCK satellite experiment missions, move $`n`$ closer to 1. Many models of inflation predict that this will be the case, some giving a value of $`n`$ completely indistinguishable from 1.

Usually, $`\varphi `$ is supposed to be charged under at least a $`Z_2`$ symmetry, that is there is no change for the system under

$$\varphi \varphi $$
(13)   
which is unbroken during inflation. Then $`V^{}=0`$ at the origin, and inflation typically takes place near the origin. As a result $`ϵ`$ negligible compared with $`\eta `$, and

$$n1=2\eta 2M_{\mathrm{Pl}}^2V^{\prime \prime }/V$$
(14)   
We assume that this is the case as in most inflation models, in what follows. If it is not, the inflation model-building, as in the slow roll approximation, is even more tricky. Another point should be clear that the possibly later stage thermal inflation only lasts a few e-foldings and at a lower energy scale around the electroweak symmetry breaking scale, which affects less the extremally successful Hot Big Bang Nucleo-synthesis which is at the MeV scale. It takes place while a lighter scalar field (with mass around 100GeV) with nonzero vacuum expectation value, is trapped by thermal effects in the false vacuum at the lighter scalar field value as zero. More components inflation model only make physics picture complex. In this paper we consider two scalar fields one of which is the Higgs-like scalar field to make sure the graceful exit after the inflation end, and contribute to the vacuum energy expectation value when taking a critical value; another explicit one is the inflaton which drives the cosmic inflation (exponential) expansion.

## III A tree-level hybrid inflation model

In this section we will present the allowed parameter regions for a particular vaccum-dominated potential that are not given out before. A similar form potential with only different signs appears in a Supersymmetry particle physics model. The focused vacuum dominated potential we consider has the usual form with dimension four for the sake of renormalizability in mind

$$V=b(M^2h^2)^2/2+m^2\varphi ^2/2+\lambda \varphi ^4/4,.$$
(15)   
where b is a coupling constant, m is the h expectation-value dependent mass parameter for the inflaton and h is the Higgs-like scalar field for the graceful exit in the new inflation scenario. If the expectation value of h equals M during evolution the model turns out to be the general chaotic inflationary potential; if not then the usual hybrid inflation model with the resulting $`V_0`$ as the dominated vacuum.

$$V=V_0+m^2\varphi ^2/2+\lambda \varphi ^4/4.$$
(16)   
with all parameters positive in it, which can be regarded as a generalization of previously fully discussed inflation models. Due to symmetry considerations we discard the cubic term. Higher order inflaton terms may appear in some Susy particle physics effective models. There are two particular limits of vacuum energy inflation, according to whether the energy density is dominated by the vacuum energy density or by the inflaton energy density. We assume the former in our case as preference in the slow-roll approximation . With the COBE normalization $`V^{1/4}/ϵ^{1/4}=.027M_{\mathrm{Pl}}`$ and $`ϵ\frac{1}{2}M_{\mathrm{Pl}}^2(V^{}/V)^2`$, in our case the false vacuum energy density

$$V_00.3^4M_{\mathrm{Pl}}^2(m^2\varphi _1+\lambda \varphi _1^3)^{2/3}/2^{1/3}.$$
(17)   
where $`\varphi _1`$ is the inflaton value when COBE scale leaves the horizon. To reduce free parameters number we define

$$y_1=m^2/\varphi _1^2.$$
(18)   
By cosmology observations to the power spectral index constraint

$$|n1|/2=\eta =M_{\mathrm{Pl}}^2V^{\prime \prime }/V<0.1$$
(19)   
and if we take the nowadays observation value upper limit 0.1 as a potentially changing parameter x, we have

$$\eta =M_{\mathrm{Pl}}^2(m^2+3\lambda \varphi ^2)/V_0<x.$$
(20)   
Taking the potential form into equation (19) and using our definition for $`y_1`$ we can define a function of $`y_1`$ as

$$f(y_1)=\frac{y_1+3\lambda }{(y_1+\lambda )^{2/3}}<x0.3^4/2^{1/3}.$$
(21)   
In this expression, the parameter $`x`$ as an observation input runs from nowadays 0.1 to the hopfully 0.01 by the near future planned MAP and PLANK satellite missions. Easily we find

$$df/dy_1=(y_13\lambda )(y_1+\lambda )^{5/3}/3$$
(22)   
For $`y_1>3\lambda `$ the $`df/dy_1>0`$, while for $`y_1<3\lambda `$ the $`df/dy_1<0`$, so that gives

$$f_{min}(3\lambda )=3(\lambda /2)^{1/3}$$
(23)   
which corresponds to, with relation (21) into account

$$\lambda _{max}<x^31.97\times 10^8$$
(24)   
With obviously

$$y_1+\lambda <y_1+3\lambda $$
(25)   
and the relation (21), directly we have

$$y_1+\lambda <x^30.027^4/2.$$
(26)   
which together give the allowed parameters regions for quartic self coupling constant $`\lambda `$ and the reduced mass parameter with various observed or to be obtanined parameter x values as inputs. Take today’s upper limit $`x=0.1`$ we find the quartic self-coupling constant $`O(10^{11})`$, far too small. For the reduced mass parameter it’s normal since inflation starts at the inflaton field value around 0.1$`M_{pl}`$, which gives the inflaton’s effective mass about 1000GeV.

With the certain e-folds number constraint for overcoming horizon and flatness problems

$$N=|_{\varphi _1}^{\varphi _c}\frac{V}{V^{}}𝑑\varphi |/M_{\mathrm{Pl}}^2.$$
(27)   
where $`\varphi _c`$ is the inflaton at the end of inflation. Insert the potential form and the COBE normlization we get another relation for the reduced mass parameter defined as

$$y_c=m^2/\varphi _c^2=(\lambda +y_1)exp(Ny_110^3/3.6\times (\lambda +y_1)^{2/3})\lambda .$$
(28)   
which limits the allowed parameters with astrophysics required e-folding numbers $`N`$ and the spectrum index x as today’s observations required values as inputs. We can see the limit cases are consistent with the previous results by numerical calculations with figures. The self-coupling constant is very tiny and the fine-tunning problem appears.(We also can get directly from the above relation curves of the reduced parameter $`y_c`$ with parameter $`\lambda `$). It is clear that the reduced parameter $`y_c`$ is approximatly linear to $`\lambda `$ when the expenatial value is around 1.

Taking the power spectral index constraint relation (19) and the relation (21) with the above equation into account we can get a constraint relation, approximatedly allowed regions to reduced parameters $`y_c`$ and $`\lambda `$ as

$$y_c+\lambda <(y_1+\lambda )exp(1000N/3.608\times (y_1+\lambda )^{1/3})<2.657\times 10^7x^3exp(1.6518Nx),$$
(29)   
By which the approximatedly allowed parameter regions for $`\lambda `$ vs $`y_c`$ with x from 0.1 to future possibly 0.01 is straightforward worked out.

If put the power spectral index expression and the e-folding expression together we find

$$|n1|=N^12^{1/6}(1+3\lambda /y_1)ln(1+\frac{y_cy_1}{\lambda +y_1}).$$
(30)   
qualitively that roughly is

$$|n1|N^1.$$
(31)   
which implies these two constraints have intrinsic connection. When $`|n1|<0.1`$ as today’s cosmological observations available, then $`N10`$. If $`|n1|<0.01`$ as the soon satellite missions by MAP and PLANCK on design hopefully to give, then the $`N100`$. This kind of generic character as expressed by relation (31) appears in a class of dynamical supersymmetry breaking particle physics models.

## IV discussion and conclusion

Models of inflation driven by a false vacuum formed by the Higgs-like scalar field are mainly different from true vacuum cases in their no zero false vacuum energy density, which are simple but also can reflect the astrophysics obervations. We discuss a regular tree-level hybrid inflation model, whose special case is the general chaotic inflation model(not a toy model) here to show how to constraint its parameters when confronting data and cosmology consistence requirements, and give several new parameter relations and the allowed regions, which can be used as a prototype model for the two planned Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) and PLANCK satellite missions tests. The results we have obtained based on a reasonable assumpation that the spectral index constraint we concentrate on is naturally satisfying the flatness conditions. Otherwise the slow roll approximation is not appliable.

The origin of this tree-level hybrid inflation model or its more complicated extentions may arise from some kind of supersymmetry particle physics or supergravity models which is generally cosidered as the appropriate framework for a description of the fundamental interactions at higher energy scale, and in particular for the description of their scalar interaction potential in the D-term and the gauge coupling F-Term. Here we only study the essence of them in order to get more viable inflation models from supersymmetry particle physics and supergravity as well as superstring (M-)theories. No matter what kind of theoretical model to be built it must satisfy at least the above observations, especially the spectral index constraint at x=0.01. The parameter space then in our case is very tiny that asks us to build the inflation models from a more natural way to avoid the fine-tunning problem, which is a chanlenge facing us. Within next few years with the rapidly increasings in the variety and more accuracy of cosmological observation data, like the measurements of temperature anisotropies in cosmic microwave background at the accuracy expected from MAP and PLANCK soon, it is possible for us to discriminate among inflation models.

As a flood of high-quality cosmological data is coming from experiments in outerspace, on earth and underground, even in the sea or at the bottom of the sea we are really entering the observation constrainning theory times. There are mainly six projects on the way. Here we only discuss the most related one to our topic, inflation model building:

The CMB Map of the Universe. COBE mapped the CMB with an angular resolution of around $`10^0`$; two new satellite missions, NASA’s MAP(lauch in 2000) and ESA’s PLANCK Surveyor (lauch 2007), will map CMB with 100 times better resolution ($`0.1^0`$) and with a detail map of our Universe at 300,000 years. From these maps of the Universe as it existed at a simpler time, long before the first stars and galaxies, will come a gold mine of information: a definitive measurement of matter fraction of the Universe today; a characterization of the primeval lumpiness and possible detection of the relic gravity waves from inflation as well as a determination of the Hubble constant to a precision of better than 0.05. Direct measurements of the expansion rate using standard candles, gravitational time delay, SZ imaging besides the precision CMB map will pin down the elusive Hubble constant once and for all. It is the fundamental parameter that sets the size- in time (the puzzling Universe age problem) and space- of the Universe. Its value is critical to testing the self consistency of the early Universe models. After all, the precision maps of the CMB that will be made are crucial to establishing the astroparticle physics inflation theory.

For the past two decades the hot big bang model as been referred to as the standard cosmology- and for good reasons. For just as long particle cosmologists have known there are fundamental questions that are not answered by the standard cosmology and point to a grander theory. The best candidate for that grander theory is the viable particle physics inflation theory plusing dark components (dark energy, hot and cold dark matter) as the Universe dominated contents. It holds that the Universe is flat, that slowly moving elemmentary particles left over from the earliest moments provide the cosmic infrastructure, and that the primeval density inhomogeneities that seed all the structure arose from quantum fluctuations. There is now lots of prima facie evidence that supports the two basic tenets of this paradigm. An avalanche of high quality cosmological observations will soon make this case stronger or even will break it. Key questions remain to be answered; foremost among them are: a viable inflation model to be built, elucidation of the dark-energy component and the identification as well as detection of the cold dark matter particles. The next, at least, two decades are exciting times in Particle Physics Cosmology with the planned continuous astrophysics experiments going.

Acknowledgements: The author thanks Laura Covi, Robert Brandenberger, Ilia Gogoladze, Christopher Kolda, Xueqian Li, David Lyth, Leszek Roszkowski, Lewis Ryder, Goran Senjanovic, Roy Tung and Xinmin Zhang for many useful discussions on this topic during his working in Lancaster, UK and his visit to Abdum Salam ICTP, Italy. He also benefits greatly from comments to his related work by R.Brandenberger, D.Lyth and X Zhang. This work is partially supported by grants from the overseas research scholarship of China National Education Ministry and from Natural Science Foundation of China: the important project for theoretical physics key field research: Particle Physics Cosmology.