Scale invariance, new inflation and decaying Lambda terms

Abstract

Realizations of scale invariance are studied in the context of a gravitational theory where the action (in the first order formalism) is of the form $S = \int L_{1} \Phi d^{4}x$ + $\int L_{2}\sqrt{-g}d^{4}x$ where $\Phi$ is a density built out of degrees of freedom, the "measure fields" independent of $g_{\mu\nu}$ and matter fields appearing in $L_{1}$, $L_{2}$. If $L_{1}$ contains the curvature, scalar potential $V(\phi)$ and kinetic term for $\phi$, $L_{2}$ another potential for $\phi$, $U(\phi)$, then the true vacuum state has zero energy density, when theory is analyzed in the conformal Einstein frame (CEF), where the equations assume the Einstein form. Global Scale invariance is realized when $V(\phi)$ = $f_{1}e^{\alpha\phi}$ and $U(\phi)$ = $f_{2}e^{2\alpha\phi}$. In the CEF the scalar field potential energy $V_{eff}(\phi)$ has in, addition to a minimum at zero, a flat region for $\alpha\phi \to\infty$, with non zero vacuum energy, which is suitable for either a New Inflationary scenario for the Early Universe or for a slowly rolling decaying $\Lambda$-scenario for the late universe, where the smallness of the vacuum energy can be understood as a kind of see-saw mechanism.