The Matter Bounce Alternative to Inflationary Cosmology

A bouncing cosmology with an initial matter-dominated phase of contraction during which scales which are currently probed with cosmological observations exit the Hubble radius provides a mechanism alternative to inflation for producing a nearly scale-invariant spectrum of cosmological perturbations. In this review article I first discuss the evolution of cosmological fluctuations in the matter bounce scenario, and then discuss various attempts at realizing such a scenario. Observational signatures which will allow the matter bounce to be distinguished from the inflationary paradigm are also discussed.