Cosmic RollerBall
A
The slow rolling scalar field makes the universe inflate by a
large amount which explains the flatness of the universe.
The time it takes for this classical process is 10^-35 seconds
B
However the evolution of the scalar field is subject to quantum fluctuations
that can be observed as a patchiness of the cosmic microwave background.
The size of these fluctuations at the end of inflation was 5 parts in 100 000.
B'
At larger values of the scalar field the quantum fluctuations are also larger
and because of this most part of physical space is in a state of eternal inflation.
Calculations show that the spacetime foam has a stationary distribution where
the lower density regions are only an infinitesmal contamination in an ocean of
planckdensity scalar field.
At some specific time ( 15 billion years ago ) our local part of the universe
dropped out from inflation and the energy of the scalar field was released
as particles and radiation in the hot big bang.
B''
The dominant pathway for formation of the lowdensity regions is not a semiclassical
rolldown with moderate fluctuations but instead to utilise the very fastest exponential
expansion of planckdensity scalar field as long as possible and then make a fast
transition as a sequence of nonperturbative fluctuations.
C
These are about 40 times larger than the standard gaussian expectation value.
If we really live inside such an INFLOID the amplitude of the cosmic microwave
background should be colder by two parts in one thousand inside this formation.
The temperature measured to 2.725 K is thus an abnormal deviation in a
local neighbourhood of space with a temperature of about 2.731 K.
Welcome to the Infinity Hotel
A somewhat messy interactive map (pops up in new window)