Recent advances in extended inflationary cosmology

Abstract

Extended inflation is a promising new approach to implementing the inflationary universe scenario. This paper reviews recent advances including a new, more robust mechanism for ending extended inflation, a new prediction for the density fluctuation spectrum generated by extended inflation, and the discovery that extended inflation can produce gravitational waves that can significantly add to the cosmic background anisotropy. Invited Talk at the Journees Relativistes, Amsterdam, May 14-16, 1992