Research
I work on a range of topics in theoretical cosmology, with a focus on the early universe and the physics of inflation, gravitational waves, and modifications to general relativity. My research is driven by a deep interest in understanding how fundamental physics shaped the earliest moments of cosmic history.
Some of my present and past collaborators:
Nilay Bostan, Anish Ghoshal, Qaisar Shafi, Zygmunt Lalak, Andrew L. Miller, Antonio Racioppi, Christian Dioguardi, Maria Giovanna Dainotti, Biagio De Simone, Giovanni Montani, S. Shankaranarayanan, Yaren Doruk, Jason Kristiano, and Gonzalo A. Palma
Inflationary Cosmology
Cosmic inflation provides a compelling framework for explaining the large-scale homogeneity, spatial flatness, and absence of unwanted relics in the observable universe. My research in this area focuses on the dynamics of inflationary models and the way their structure is reflected in cosmological observables. In particular, I study how the form of the inflationary potential, nonminimal couplings, and the geometry of field space affect the evolution of primordial perturbations. The broader aim is to connect theoretical models of the very early universe with measurable signatures in the cosmic microwave background and the large-scale distribution of matter.
Inflation at the Interface with Particle Physics
Inflation is not only a paradigm for the early universe but also a potential window into high-energy particle physics beyond the Standard Model. My research explores how inflationary dynamics can be embedded within well-motivated particle physics frameworks, including Grand Unified Theories and scalar extensions of the Standard Model.
A central focus is on how the inflaton sector couples to additional fields and how these interactions shape both cosmological observables and post-inflationary physics. In particular, I investigate scenarios where inflation is connected to reheating dynamics, dark matter production, and baryogenesis via leptogenesis. These connections allow cosmological measurements, such as the spectral index, tensor-to-scalar ratio, and non-Gaussianities, to serve as indirect probes of high-energy physics.
Within this broader program, I study models such as Higgs-ℛ²
inflation and Palatini formulations of modified gravity, where the structure of the gravitational sector and its coupling to matter fields play a crucial role. The goal is to develop a coherent framework in which inflation is not treated in isolation, but rather as part of a unified description linking early-universe cosmology to particle physics phenomenology.
Multifield Inflation
I am particularly interested in multifield inflation, where several scalar fields evolve simultaneously during the inflationary epoch. These models exhibit a much richer dynamics than their single-field counterparts, especially through curved field-space trajectories, mode mixing, and the generation of entropy perturbations. My work explores how such effects modify the primordial power spectrum, induce nontrivial correlations, and potentially generate observable non-Gaussian signatures. Multifield scenarios also provide a natural setting for studying mechanisms that may lead to the production of primordial black holes and other early-universe relics.
Primordial Black Holes (PBHs)
Primordial black holes offer a unique link between inflationary physics, dark matter, and observational cosmology. My research examines the conditions under which enhanced curvature perturbations generated during inflation can collapse into black holes after horizon re-entry. I study these questions in both single-field and multifield settings, with particular attention to the mechanisms capable of amplifying fluctuations over narrow scales. This work is aimed at clarifying how primordial black holes can serve both as probes of inflationary dynamics and as possible contributors to the dark matter content of the universe.
Modified Gravity Theories
Another major direction of my research is modified gravity, especially f(R) f(R) gravity and related theories in the Palatini formulation. These models provide well-motivated extensions of General Relativity and can lead to distinct predictions in regimes of strong curvature, including the inflationary era. I investigate how modified gravitational dynamics reshape inflationary observables, affect the evolution of cosmological backgrounds, and alter the behavior of perturbations. More broadly, this line of work is part of the effort to understand whether gravity departs from Einstein’s theory in the early universe or at high energies.
Gravitational Waves signatures
Gravitational waves provide a powerful observational window into both fundamental gravity and early-universe physics. My research uses gravitational wave propagation and polarization as tools to test departures from General Relativity and constrain modified gravity scenarios. I am interested in how new gravitational degrees of freedom, parity-violating effects, or altered propagation laws can leave observable imprints in current and future detector data. This connects theoretical developments with the rapidly growing experimental landscape, including ground-based interferometers, space-based missions such as LISA, and future cosmological probes sensitive to primordial gravitational wave backgrounds.