K-essence Field Research Articles

A Loop Quantum-Corrected Family of Chiral Cosmology Models

We construct and examine a holonomy-corrected chiral fields model of cosmological relevance. Specifically, we holonomize the Hamiltonian corresponding to a quintom field scenario with additional kinetic interaction (governed by the constant chiral metric, mab) on a flat FLRW background and contrast the resulting model with the corresponding purely classical system. In particular, it is shown that the single LQC bouncing stage is ensured to be realized, provided the full chiral kinetic energy function does not change sign during evolution. (As preparation, a particularly simple k-essence field is examined within the effective LQC scheme; some exact solutions are obtained in the process.) Additionally, under the said assumption, it is established that the landmark bouncing mechanism of standard (effective) LQC is still guaranteed to be featured even when taking any finite number of fields ϕ1,…ϕm and mab to be dependent on such fields (the particular zero-potential case corresponding to a family of simple purely kinetic k-essence multi-field cosmology models).

Euclidean Wormhole with k-essence field in the presence of Gauss–Bonnet term

In this paper, we present some analytical solutions of wormhole in four-dimensional Robertson–Walker Euclidean background considering Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet dilaton interaction with a [Formula: see text]-essence field for [Formula: see text]. The solutions are obtained assuming some restrictions on coupling function with a form of potential or with the ratio of kinetic to potential energy of the dilaton field. Euclidean wormhole, in one case, evolves through early transient inflationary era and after graceful exit from inflation, it asymptotically yields a radiation dominated era or a matter dominated era. In another solution, initial Euclidean wormhole is accompanied by oscillation of scale factor in Euclidean time at some late era which asymptotically yields exponential expansion. The violation of the null energy condition can be avoided asymptotically. The potential is also found to decay sharply.

Dynamical stability in presence of non-minimal derivative dependent coupling of k-essence field with a relativistic fluid

In this paper we investigate a non-minimal, space-time derivative dependent, coupling between the k-essence field and a relativistic fluid using a variational approach. The derivative coupling term couples the space-time derivative of the k-essence field with the fluid 4-velocity via an inner product. The inner product has a coefficient whose form specifies the various models of interaction. By introducing a coupling term at the Lagrangian level and using the variational technique we obtain the k-essence field equation and the Friedmann equations in the background of a spatially flat Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) metric. Explicitly using the dynamical analysis approach we analyze the dynamics of this coupled scenario in the context of two kinds of interaction models. The models are distinguished by the form of the coefficient multiplying the derivative coupling term. In the simplest approach we work with an inverse square law potential of the k-essence field. Both of the models are not only capable of producing a stable accelerating solution, they can also explain different phases of the evolutionary universe.

Ghost Condensates and Pure Kinetic k-Essence Condensates in the Presence of Field–Fluid Non-Minimal Coupling in the Dark Sector

In this article, we try to determine the conditions when a ghost field, in conjunction with a barotropic fluid, produces a stable accelerating expansion phase of the universe. It is seen that, in many cases, the ghost field produces a condensate and drives the fluid energy density to zero in the final accelerating phase, but there can be other possibilities. We have shown that a pure kinetic k-essence field (which is not a ghost field) interacting with a fluid can also form an interaction-induced condensate and produce a stable accelerating phase of the universe. In the latter case, the fluid energy density does not vanish in the stable phase.

Parametrising non-linear dark energy perturbations

In this paper, we quantify the non-linear effects from k-essence dark energy through an effective parameter μ that encodes the additional contribution of a dark energy fluid or a modification of gravity to the Poisson equation. This is a first step toward quantifying non-linear effects of dark energy/modified gravity models in a more general approach. We compare our N-body simulation results from k-evolution with predictions from the linear Boltzmann code \ exttt{CLASS}, and we show that for the k-essence model one can safely neglect the difference between the two potentials, Φ −Ψ, and short wave corrections appearing as higher order terms in the Poisson equation, which allows us to use single parameter μ for characterizing this model. We also show that for a large k-essence speed of sound the CLASS results are sufficiently accurate, while for a low speed of sound non-linearities in matter and in the k-essence field are non-negligible. We propose a tanh-based parameterisation for μ, motivated by the results for two cases with low (cs2=10−7) and high (cs2=10−4) speed of sound, to include the non-linear effects based on the simulation results. This parametric form of μ can be used to improve Fisher forecasts or Newtonian N-body simulations for k-essence models.

Primordial non-Gaussianities of scalar and tensor perturbations in general bounce cosmology: Evading the no-go theorem

It has been pointed out that matter bounce cosmology driven by a k-essence field cannot satisfy simultaneously the observational bounds on the tensor-to-scalar ratio and non-Gaussianity of the curvature perturbation. In this paper, we show that this is not the case in more general scalar-tensor theories. To do so, we evaluate the power spectra and the bispectra of scalar and tensor perturbations on a general contracting background in the Horndeski theory. We then discuss how one can discriminate contracting models from inflation based on non-Gaussian signatures of tensor perturbations.

K-evolution: a relativistic N-body code for clustering dark energy

We introduce k-evolution, a relativistic N-body code based on gevolution, which includes clustering dark energy among its cosmological components. To describe dark energy, we use the effective field theory approach. In particular, we focus on k-essence with a speed of sound much smaller than unity but we lay down the basis to extend the code to other dark energy and modified gravity models. We develop the formalism including dark energy non-linearities but, as a first step, we implement the equations in the code after dropping non-linear self-coupling in the k-essence field. In this simplified setup, we compare k-evolution simulations with those of CLASS and gevolution 1.2, showing the effect of dark matter and gravitational non-linearities on the power spectrum of dark matter, of dark energy and of the gravitational potential. Moreover, we compare k-evolution to Newtonian N-body simulations with back-scaled initial conditions and study how dark energy clustering affects massive halos.

Diffusive dark matter and dark energy scenario and k -essence in the context of Supernova Ia observations

We consider a unified model of interacting dark matter and dark energy to account for coincidence of present day dark energy and dark matter densities. We assume dark energy to be represented by a homogeneous scalar field $\phi$ whose dynamics is driven by a (non-canonical) $k$-essence Lagrangian with constant potential and the particles of dark matter fluid undergoing velocity diffusion in background medium of the $k-$essence scalar field $\phi$. This results in a transfer of energy from the fluid of dark matter to that of dark energy. This effect shows up as a source term in the continuity equation for dark matter and dark energy fluids. The source term involves a diffusion coefficient which is a measure of average energy transferred per unit time due to diffusion. We use time evolutions of the scale factor of background FRW spacetime, energy density and pressure of the dark fluid obtained from analysis of Supernova Ia data to obtain bounds on the diffusion parameter. For a constant potential in the $k$-essence Lagrangian, the temporal behaviour of a homogeneous $k$-essence field $\phi$ is obtained for different values of the diffusion parameter. The obtained temporal behaviour may be expressed as $\phi(t/t_0) = \phi_0 + \varepsilon_1 (t/t_0 - 1) + \varepsilon_2 (t/t_0 -1)^2$, where $t_0$ is the time corresponding to present epoch. The coefficients $\varepsilon_1$ and $\varepsilon_2$ have been found and obtained as linear functions of diffusion parameter.

Mass-varying massive gravity with k-essence

In this work I review the specific class of mass-varying massive gravity in which a corresponding graviton is given nonzero varying mass. Particularly in this theory, the graviton mass varies which is driven by a rolling k-essence field. Firstly, the model action is expressed along with its equations of motion. It is found from those equations of motion that not only the cosmic accelerating expansion but also the presence of dark matter can be realized in this context. Due to the complexity of its dynamics, the method of dynamical analysis is used to investigate evolutions of the cosmological system. It is found that the corresponding cosmological evolutions can explain the cosmic coincidence problem, where the effective dark matter is presented while the system is in the phase of the cosmic accelerating expansion. I then conclude that the evolutions obtained here can alleviate the cosmic coincidence problem while in some aspects the fine-tuning problem arises.

Role of matter in extended quasidilaton massive gravity

The extended quasidilaton theory is one of the simplest Lorentz-invariant massive gravity theories which can accommodate a stable self-accelerating vacuum solution. In this paper we revisit this theory and study the effect of matter fields. For a matter sector that couples minimally to the physical metric, we find hints of a Jeans type instability in the IR. In the analogue k-essence field set-up, this instability manifests itself as an IR ghost for the scalar field perturbation, but this can be interpreted as a classical instability that becomes relevant below some momentum scale in terms of matter density perturbations. We also consider the effect of the background evolution influenced by matter on the stability of the gravity sector perturbations. In particular, we address the previous claims of ghost instability in the IR around the late time attractor. We show that, although the matter-induced modification of the evolution potentially brings tension to the stability conditions, one goes beyond the regime of validity of the effective theory well before the solutions become unstable. We also draw attention to the fact that the IR stability conditions are also enforced by the existence requirements of consistent background solutions.

A Study of Holographic Dark Energy Models in Chern-Simon Modified Gravity

This paper is devoted to study some holographic dark energy models in the context of Chern-Simon modified gravity by considering FRW universe. We analyze the equation of state parameter using Granda and Oliveros infrared cut-off proposal which describes the accelerated expansion of the universe under the restrictions on the parameter α. It is shown that for the accelerated expansion phase $ -1<\omega _{\Lambda }<-\frac {1}{3}$ , the parameter α varies according as $1<\alpha <\frac {3}{2}$ . Furthermore, for 0<α<1, the holographic energy and pressure density illustrates phantom-like theory of the evolution when ω Λ<−1. Also, we discuss the correspondence between the quintessence, K-essence, tachyon and dilaton field models and holographic dark energy models on similar fashion. To discuss the accelerated expansion of the universe, we explore the potential and the dynamics of quintessence, K-essence, tachyon and dilaton field models.

K-essence model from the mechanical approach point of view: coupled scalar field and the late cosmic acceleration

In this paper, we consider the Universe at the late stage of its evolution and deep inside the cell of uniformity. At these scales, we can consider the Universe to be filled with dust-like matter in the form of discretely distributed galaxies, a K-essence scalar field, playing the role of dark energy, and radiation as matter sources. We investigate such a Universe in the mechanical approach. This means that the peculiar velocities of the inhomogeneities (in the form of galaxies) as well as the fluctuations of the other perfect fluids are non-relativistic. Such fluids are designated as coupled because they are concentrated around the inhomogeneities. In the present paper, we investigate the conditions under which the K-essence scalar field with the most general form for its action can become coupled. We investigate at the background level three particular examples of the K-essence models: (i) the pure kinetic K-essence field, (ii) a K-essence with a constant speed of sound and (iii) the K-essence model with the Lagrangian bX+cX2−V(ϕ). We demonstrate that if the K-essence is coupled, all these K-essence models take the form of multicomponent perfect fluids where one of the component is the cosmological constant. Therefore, they can provide the late-time cosmic acceleration and be simultaneously compatible with the mechanical approach.

Spotting deviations from R2 inflation

We discuss the soundness of inflationary scenarios in theories beyond the Starobinsky model, namely a class of theories described by arbitrary functions of the Ricci scalar and the K-essence field. We discuss the pathologies associated with higher-order equations of motion which will be shown to constrain the stability of this class of theories. We provide a general framework to calculate the slow-roll parameters and the corresponding mappings to the theory parameters. For paradigmatic gravitational models within the class of theories under consideration we illustrate the power of the Planck/Bicep2 latest results to constrain such gravitational Lagrangians. Finally, bounds for potential deviations from Starobinsky-like inflation are derived.

Publisher’s Note: Consistency of universally nonminimally coupledf(R,T,RμνTμν)theories [Phys. Rev. D91, 104003 (2015)

We discuss the consistency of a recently proposed class of theories described by an arbitrary function of the Ricci scalar, the trace of the energy-momentum tensor and the contraction of the Ricci tensor with the energy-momentum tensor. We briefly discuss the limitations of including the energy-momentum tensor in the action, as it is a non fundamental quantity, but a quantity that should be derived from the action. The fact that theories containing non-linear contractions of the Ricci tensor usually leads to the presence of pathologies associated with higher-order equations of motion will be shown to constrain the stability of this class of theories. We provide a general framework and show that the conformal mode for these theories generally has higher-order equations of motion and that non-minimal couplings to the matter fields usually lead to higher-order equations of motion. In order to illustrate such limitations we explicitly study the cases of a canonical scalar field, a K-essence field and a massive vector field. Whereas for the scalar field cases it is possible to find healthy theories, for the vector field case the presence of instabilities is unavoidable.

Mass-varying massive gravity with k-essence

For a large class of mass-varying massive gravity models, the graviton mass cannot provide the late-time cosmic expansion of the universe due to its vanishing at late time. In this work, we propose a new class of mass-varying massive gravity in which the graviton mass varies according to a kinetic term of a k-essence field. By using a more general form of the fiducial metric, we found a solution such that a non-vanishing graviton mass can drive the accelerated expansion of the universe at late time. We also perform dynamical analyses of such model and found that without introducing the k-essence Lagrangian, the graviton mass can be responsible for both dark contents of the universe, namely dark energy that drives the accelerated expansion of the universe and non-relativistic matter that plays the role of dark matter. Moreover, by including the k-essence Lagrangian, we found that it is possible to alleviate the so-called cosmic coincidence problem.

Interacting new agegraphic version of pilgrim dark energy

We discuss the cosmological evolution of the interacting pilgrim dark energy (DE) with conformal age of the universe in flat FRW universe. We evaluate the equation of state (EoS) parameter for three different values of interacting parameter which evolutes the universe from matter dominated to phantom-like eras by evolving quintessence as well as vacuum DE eras. We also give the correspondence of the present DE model with quintessence, tachyon, k-essence, dilaton and DBI-essence scalar field models. We discuss the dynamics of scalar field and corresponding potentials. We find that the behavior of scalar field, corresponding potentials and kinetic energy terms (in k-essence and dilaton field) consistent with the present day observations. Also, cosmological planes such as [Formula: see text] and r - s planes corresponds to ΛCDM limit.

Consistency of universally nonminimally coupledf(R,T,RμνTμν)theories

We discuss the consistency of a recently proposed class of theories described by an arbitrary function of the Ricci scalar, the trace of the energy-momentum tensor and the contraction of the Ricci tensor with the energy-momentum tensor. We briefly discuss the limitations of including the energy-momentum tensor in the action, as it is a non fundamental quantity, but a quantity that should be derived from the action. The fact that theories containing non-linear contractions of the Ricci tensor usually leads to the presence of pathologies associated with higher-order equations of motion will be shown to constrain the stability of this class of theories. We provide a general framework and show that the conformal mode for these theories generally has higher-order equations of motion and that non-minimal couplings to the matter fields usually lead to higher-order equations of motion. In order to illustrate such limitations we explicitly study the cases of a canonical scalar field, a K-essence field and a massive vector field. Whereas for the scalar field cases it is possible to find healthy theories, for the vector field case the presence of instabilities is unavoidable.

Testing a dissipative kinetic k-essence model

In this work, we present a study of a purely kinetic k-essence model, characterized basically by a parameter $\alpha$ in presence of a bulk dissipative term, whose relationship between viscous pressure $\Pi$ and energy density $\rho$ of the background follows a polytropic type law $\Pi \propto \rho^{\lambda+1/2}$, where $\lambda$, in principle, is a parameter without restrictions. Analytical solutions for the energy density of the k-essence field are found in two specific cases: $\lambda=1/2$ and $\lambda=(1-\alpha)/2\alpha$, and then we show that these solutions posses the same functional form than the non-viscous counterpart. Finally, both approach are contrasted with observational data from type Ia supernova, and the most recent Hubble parameter measurements, and therefore, the best values for the parameters of the theory are founds.

The evolution of the power law k-essence cosmology

We investigate the evolution of the power law k-essence field in FRWL spacetime. The autonomous dynamical system and critical points are obtained. The corresponding cosmological parameters, such as $\Omega _{\phi }$ and $w_{\phi }$, are calculated at these critical points. We find it is possible to achieve an equation of state crossing through $-1$ for k-essence field. The results we obtained indicate that the power law k-essence dark energy model can be compatible with observations.

The Hawking temperature in the context of dark energy

An emergent-gravity metric incorporating k-essence scalar fields ϕ having a Born-Infeld–type Lagrangian is mapped into a metric whose structure is similar to that of a blackhole of large mass M that has swallowed a global monopole. However, here the field is not that of a monopole but rather that of a k-essence scalar field. If ϕemergent are the solutions of the emergent-gravity equations of motion under cosmological boundary conditions at ∞, then for the rescaled field has exact correspondence with ϕ with ϕ(r,t) = ϕ1(r) + ϕ2(t). The Hawking temperature of this metric is , taking the speed of light c = 1. Here is the kinetic energy of the k-essence field ϕ and K is always less than unity, kB is the Boltzmann constant. This is phenomenologically interesting in the context of Belgiorno et al.'s gravitational analogue experiment.