Abstract:
Primordial inflation is a period of extraordinarily rapid accelerated expansion at the very beginning of our Universe. The energy scale associated with this expansion far exceeds anything achievable in Earth-based particle accelerators, making it a unique arena for exploring particle physics and even quantum gravity. The observational challenge lies in uncovering traces of this epoch in the observable Universe today. In this seminar I will focus on the theoretical side, and provide an overview of early Universe cosmology, focusing on the phenomenon of gravitational particle production in inflation and its consequences. Furthermore, I will discuss why quantum loop corrections are important in inflation, and what is their relevance for both particle physics and quantum gravity.