Cosmic Inflation
A cosmological theory proposing a brief phase of exponential spatial expansion in the early universe (~10⁻³⁶ to 10⁻³² seconds after the Big Bang).
Governing formula
a(t) = a₀ e^(H t) (Exponential scale factor growth)
SI unit
Ultra-early Epoch (t ~ 10⁻³⁶ s)
In depth
Proposed by Alan Guth in 1981. Driven by the vacuum energy of a scalar field (inflaton). Inflation solves the Horizon Problem (thermal CMB uniformity) and Flatness Problem, stretching primordial quantum fluctuations into seeds for galaxy formation.
Examples in the real world
Explaining why the Cosmic Microwave Background temperature is uniform to 1 part in 100,000 across opposite horizons.