Dynamical behavior of generic quintessence potentials: constraints on key dark energy observables

dc.creatorHuterer, Dragan
dc.creatorPeiris, Hiranya V.
dc.date2006-10-14
dc.date2007-06-21
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T10:23:53Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T10:23:53Z
dc.descriptionWe perform a comprehensive study of a class of dark energy models - scalar field models where the effective potential can be described by a polynomial series - exploring their dynamical behavior using the method of flow equations that has previously been applied to inflationary models. Using supernova, baryon oscillation, CMB and Hubble constant data, and an implicit theoretical prior imposed by the scalar field dynamics, we find that the LCDM model provides an excellent fit to the data. Constraints on the generic scalar field potential parameters are presented, along with the reconstructed w(z) histories consistent with the data and the theoretical prior. We propose and pursue computationally feasible algorithms to obtain estimates of the principal components of the equation of state, as well as parameters w_0 and w_a. Further, we use the Monte Carlo Markov Chain machinery to simulate future data based on the Joint Dark Energy Mission, Planck and baryon acoustic oscillation surveys and find that the inverse area figure of merit improves nearly by an order of magnitude. Therefore, most scalar field models that are currently consistent with data can be potentially ruled out by future experiments. We also comment on the classification of dark energy models into "thawing'" and "freezing" in light of the more diverse evolution histories allowed by this general class of potentials.
dc.description22 pages and 12 figures, minor clarifications and a new Figure (#9) added in v3, matches the published PRD version. Chains and high-res figures are available at http://kicp.uchicago.edu/~dhuterer/DE_FLOWROLL/de_flowroll.html
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0610427
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0610427
dc.identifierPhys.Rev.D75:083503,2007
dc.identifierdoi:10.1103/PhysRevD.75.083503
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/175998
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.subjectHigh Energy Physics - Phenomenology
dc.subjectHigh Energy Physics - Theory
dc.titleDynamical behavior of generic quintessence potentials: constraints on key dark energy observables
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