Round 12: Tossup 9

In one proposed mechanism, this process is driven by a positive-energy false vacuum (15[1])in which “bubbles” of true vacuum form via quantum tunneling. In another model, this process is driven by a scalar field whose energy is minimized via “slow-roll.” During this process, which occurred after the grand unification epoch, the scale factor underwent exponential growth. (-5[1])This process explains the temperature uniformity of the CMB, solving the (*) horizon problem and showing why the universe is homogenous and isotropic. Alan Guth proposed this process, which occurred about 10 to the minus 36th seconds after the Big Bang. (-5[1])For 10 points, name this process of extremely rapid expansion of the early universe. ■END■ (10[1]0[2])

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