A Consideration of Cosmic Evolution from the Points of View of the Inflationary and Cyclic Theories

Anantya Bhatnagar

Published 2018-12-13Version 1

This study reviews the advances made in inflationary theory, especially regarding the seeming disparity between inflation energy and dark energy, and their significance to cosmic evolution as a whole. I attempt to connect the two sources of expansion and thereby enhance the predictive capacity of the consensus model. I also attempt to contrast its strengths and weaknesses with those of the cyclic theory developed by Turok and Steinhardt, particularly where cosmic evolution over larger time scales is concerned. Furthermore, I endeavor to provide a physical meaning to the existence and workings of dark energy as well as dark matter in the cyclic model (as compared to their simply being extra parameters in the inflation picture), so that each observed component of the universe is given significance.