THERMODYNAMIC ASPECTS OF EXTENDED INFLATION

Extended inflation has recently been proposed as a way of allowing inflation to proceed via a first-order phase change while avoiding the graceful exit problem. We examine the constraints imposed on such models by the need to establish a thermal initial state using the formalism developed in a previous paper. We conclude that, despite the extra free parameters extended inflation enjoys, the difficulties of generating a thermal state are just as great as they are for conventional inflation.