ABSTRACT
A monograph on inflationary cosmology and cosmological phase transitions, investigating modern cosmology's relationship to elementary particle physics. This work also includes a non-technical discussion of inflationary cosmology for those unfamiliar with the theory.
Introduction 1 Overview of Unified Theories of Elementary Particles and the Inflationary Universe Scenario 2 Scalar Field, Effective Potential, and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking 3 Restoration of Symmetry at High Temperature 4 Phase Transitions in Cold Superdense Matter 5 Tunneling Theory and the Decay of a Metastable Phase in a First-Order Phase Transition 6 Phase Transitions in a Hot Universe 7 General Principles of Inflationary Cosmology 8 The New Inflationary Universe Scenario 9 The Chaotic Inflation Scenario 10 Inflation and Quantum Cosmology Conclusion
