Inflationary period?

[Michael Steen]

From everything I read, in the 1st zillionth of a second after the Big Bang, the universe underwent a period of inflation that swelled it to an enormous size almost immediately. Thereafter it continued to expand at it's normal rate within the bounds of physics.
My question has always been this: Is this period of inflation merely a "deus ex machina" to explain how the universe could be this large after only 13 billion years, or is there some sound physics backing up the idea that the universe could, momentarily, expand at speeds exponentially faster than the speed of light, after which the speed limit signs went up?
I guess, basically, I'm asking if the speed of light as a limit only came into play after inflation, or if the limit was somehow exceeded by physical forces no longer present in our universe.

[admin]

Hello Michael,
yes that is a very interesting point in our universes creation.

I have no idea as to the answer of your question although some of the astrophysics members may be able to help.

[blobrana]

Yes,
the inflationary period was `invented` to solve mainly the Horizon, Flatness and Magnetic monopole problems.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_inflation

The speed of light only limits the speed of objects in spacetime; it does not limit the speed of spacetime expansion itself. The expansion for all intents and purposes could have been instantaneous, and permissible.

[Carlos_dfc]

Didn't see this the other day - but yes, as blobrana says...

Light-speed is only a limit to maximum velocity within the Universe - In inflationary theory, the Universe itself is allowed to expand faster than light-speed.

[admin]

thanks blobrana