The non-minimal coupling constant and the primordial de Sitter state

Abstract

Dynamical systems methods are used to investigate dynamics of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological model with the non-minimally coupled scalar field and a potential function. Performed analysis distinguishes the value of non-minimal coupling constant parameter $\xi=\frac{3}{16}$, which is the conformal coupling in five dimensional theory of gravity. It is shown that for a monomial potential functions at infinite values of the scalar field there exist generic de Sitter and Einstein-de Sitter states. The de Sitter state is unstable with respect to expansion of the Universe for potential functions which do not change faster than linearly. This leads to a generic cosmological evolution without the initial singularity.