Transitioning from a bounce to R2 inflation

Non-singular bouncing cosmologies are well-motivated models for the early universe. Recent observational data are consistent with positive spatial curvature and allow for a natural collapsing and bouncing phase in the very early universe. Additionally, bouncing cosmologies have the potential to rectify conceptual shortcomings identified in the theory of inflation, such as the singularity problem. In this paper we present a classical bouncing model in the context of modified gravity, including an R2-term in the action. We show that after the bounce, the universe enters naturally a period of inflation, driven by the R2-term. We analyse the stability of the model and find that the scalaron assists the stability of the model.