Robert Brandenberger (McGill): Is inflationary cosmology consistent with fundamental physics?

Abstract: The inflationary scenario has become the paradigm of early universe cosmology. However, recently challenges have been raised as to whether the scenario can be compatible with fundamental physics. I will review the inflationary scenario, introduce the challenges (Swampland Criteria and Trans-Planckian Censorship Conjecture (TCC)), and show that there are alternatives to inflation which are in agreement with current observations, and also satisfy both the swampland criteria and the TCC.

In terms of technical difficulty, this talk rates x/5.

[nesaralititumir]

What does x/5 might mean?? Veery difficult?