The oscillating universe: an alternative to inflation

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Abstract
The aim of this paper is to show that the `oscillating universe' is a viable alternative to inflation. We recall that this model provides a natural solution to the flatness or entropy and to the horizon problem of standard cosmology. We study the evolution of density perturbations and determine the power spectrum in a closed universe. The results lead to constraints on how a previous cycle might have looked. We argue that most of the radiation entropy of the present universe may have originated from gravitational entropy produced in a previous cycle. We show that measurements of the power spectrum on very large scales could, in principle, decide whether our universe is closed, flat or open.