Warm Inflation and its Microphysical Basis
  The microscopic quantum field theory origins of warm inflation dynamics are
reviewed. The warm inflation scenario is first described along with its
results, predictions and comparison with the standard cold inflation scenario.
The basics of thermal field theory required in the study of warm inflation are
discussed. Quantum field theory real time calculations at finite temperature
are then presented and the derivation of dissipation and stochastic
fluctuations are shown from a general perspective. Specific results are given
of dissipation coefficients for a variety of quantum field theory interaction
structures relevant to warm inflation, in a form that can readily be used by
model builders. Different particle physics models realising warm inflation are
presented along with their observational predictions.
