Bunch-Davies initial conditions and non-perturbative inflationary dynamics in Numerical Relativity

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Autores principales: Launay, Yoann L., Rigopoulos, Gerasimos I., Shellard, E. Paul S.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Launay, Yoann L.
Rigopoulos, Gerasimos I.
Shellard, E. Paul S.
author_facet Launay, Yoann L.
Rigopoulos, Gerasimos I.
Shellard, E. Paul S.
contents We show that it is possible to simulate realistic inhomogeneities during cosmological inflation with high precision using {Numerical Relativity}. Stochastic initial conditions are set in line with the Bunch-Davies {vacuum} and satisfy the Hamiltonian and Momentum constraints of General Relativity to leading order in perturbation theory. The subsequent fully non-linear dynamical evolution is formulated within a family of geodesic gauges but can in principle be adapted to any choice of coordinates. We present 3 examples of inflationary dynamics: a simple quadratic potential, a potential with an inflection point and a strong resonance model. When perturbations are small, we recover standard predictions of cosmological perturbation theory, and we quantify strongly non-linear inhomogeneities when non-perturbative configurations emerge, such as in the strong resonance model. Our results pave the way towards the first realistic non-perturbative, and fully non-linear Numerical Relativity simulations of the early inflationary universe.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_06783
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Bunch-Davies initial conditions and non-perturbative inflationary dynamics in Numerical Relativity
Launay, Yoann L.
Rigopoulos, Gerasimos I.
Shellard, E. Paul S.
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Theory
We show that it is possible to simulate realistic inhomogeneities during cosmological inflation with high precision using {Numerical Relativity}. Stochastic initial conditions are set in line with the Bunch-Davies {vacuum} and satisfy the Hamiltonian and Momentum constraints of General Relativity to leading order in perturbation theory. The subsequent fully non-linear dynamical evolution is formulated within a family of geodesic gauges but can in principle be adapted to any choice of coordinates. We present 3 examples of inflationary dynamics: a simple quadratic potential, a potential with an inflection point and a strong resonance model. When perturbations are small, we recover standard predictions of cosmological perturbation theory, and we quantify strongly non-linear inhomogeneities when non-perturbative configurations emerge, such as in the strong resonance model. Our results pave the way towards the first realistic non-perturbative, and fully non-linear Numerical Relativity simulations of the early inflationary universe.
title Bunch-Davies initial conditions and non-perturbative inflationary dynamics in Numerical Relativity
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Theory
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06783