Dark energy,curvature, and cosmic coincidence

The fact that the energy densities of dark energy and matter are similar currently, known as the coincidence problem, is one of the main unsolved problems of cosmology. We present here a model in which a spatial curvature of the universe can lead to a transition in the present epoch from a matter dominated universe to a scaling dark energy dominance in a very natural way. In particular, we show that if the exponential potential of the dark energy field depends linearly on the spatial curvature density of a closed universe, the observed values of some cosmological parameters can be obtained assuming acceptable values for the present spatial curvature of the universe, and without fine tuning in the only parameter of the model. We also comment on possible variations of this model, and realistic scenarios in which it could arise.     

Signature of the interaction between dark energy and dark matter in galaxy clusters

We investigate the influence of an interaction between dark energy and dark matter upon the dynamics of galaxy clusters. We obtain the general Layser–Irvine equation in the presence of interactions, and find how, in that case, the virial theorem stands corrected. Using optical, X-ray and weak lensing data from 33 relaxed galaxy clusters, we put constraints on the strength of the coupling between the dark sectors. Available data suggests that this coupling is small but positive, indicating that dark energy might be decaying into dark matter. Systematic effects between the several mass estimates, however, should be better known, before definitive conclusions on the magnitude and significance of this coupling could be established.     

Quantum modified Regge–Teitelboim cosmology

In this paper we study the late evolution of Relic Gravitational Waves in coupled dark energy models, where dark energy interacts with cold dark matter. Relic Gravitational Waves are second tensorial order perturbations of the Lemaitre–Friedman–Robertson–Walker metric and experiment an evolution ruled by the scale factor of the metric. We find that the amplitude of Relic Gravitational Waves is smaller in coupled dark energy models than in models with non interacting dark energy. We also find that the amplitude of the waves predicted by the models with coupling term proportional to the dark energy density is smaller than those of the models with coupling term proportional to dark matter density.     

Evolution of Holographic Dark Energy in Interacting Modified Chaplygin Gas Model

We investigate the modified Chaplygin gas （MCG） with interaction between holographic dark energy proposed by Li and dark matter. In this model, evolution of the universe is described in detail, which is from deceleration to acceleration. Specifically, the evolutions of related cosmological quantities such as density parameter, the equation of state of holographic dark energy, deceleration parameter and transition redshift are discussed. Moreover, we also give their present values which are consistent with the lately observations. Furthermore, the results given by us show such a model can accommodate a transition of the dark energy from a normal state wx 〉 -1 to ωx 〈 -1 phantom regimes.     

Inflation with multiple sound speeds: A model of multiple DBI type actions and non-Gaussianities

In this Letter we study adiabatic and isocurvature perturbations in the frame of inflation with multiple sound speeds involved. We suggest this scenario can be realized by a number of generalized scalar fields with arbitrary kinetic forms. These scalars have their own sound speeds respectively, so the propagations of field fluctuations are individual. Specifically, we study a model constructed by two DBI type actions. We find that the critical length scale for the freezing of perturbations corresponds to the maximum sound horizon. Moreover, if the mass term of one field is much lighter than that of the other, the entropy perturbation could be quite large and so may give rise to a growth outside sound horizon. At cubic order, we find that the non-Gaussianity of local type is possibly large when entropy perturbations are able to convert into curvature perturbations. We also calculate the non-Gaussianity of equilateral type approximately.     

Cosmology with a variable Chaplygin gas

We consider a new generalized Chaplygin gas model that includes the original Chaplygin gas model as a special case. In such a model the generalized Chaplygin gas evolves as from dust to quiescence or phantom. We show that the background evolution for the model is equivalent to that for a coupled dark energy model with dark matter. The constraints from the current type Ia supernova data favour a phantom-like Chaplygin gas model.     

Cosmological model with energy transfer

The observations of SNIa suggest that we live in the acceleration epoch when the densities of the cosmological constant term and matter are almost equal. This leads to the cosmic coincidence conundrum. As the explanation for this problem we propose the FRW model with dark matter and dark energy which interact each other exchanging energy. We show that the cubic correction to the Hubble law, measured by distant supernovae type Ia, probes this interaction. We demonstrate that influences between nonrelativistic matter and vacuum sectors are controlled by third and higher derivatives of the scale factor. As an example we consider flat decaying Λ(t)$\Lambda (t)$ FRW cosmologies. We point out the possibility of measure of the energy transfer by the cubic and higher corrections to Hubble's law. The statistical analysis of SNIa data is used as an evidence of energy transfer. We find that there were the transfer from the dark energy sector to the dark matter one without any assumption about physics governing this process. We confront this hypothesis about the transfer with SNIa observations and find that the transfer the phantom and matter sector is admissible for Ω_m,0=0.27${\Omega }_{\mathrm{m},0}=0.27$. We also demonstrate that it is possible to differentiate between the energy transfer model and the variable coefficient equation of state model.     

Model for a Universe described by a non-minimally coupled scalar field and interacting dark matter

In this work the evolution of a Universe model is investigated where a scalar field, non-minimally coupled to space-time curvature, plays the role of quintessence and drives the Universe to a present accelerated expansion. A non-relativistic dark matter constituent that interacts directly with dark energy is also considered, where the dark matter particle mass is assumed to be proportional to the value of the scalar field. Two models for dark matter pressure are considered: the usual one, pressureless, and another that comes from a thermodynamic theory and relates the pressure with the coupling between the scalar field and the curvature scalar. Although the model has a strong dependence on the initial conditions, it is shown that the mixture consisted of dark components plus baryonic matter and radiation can reproduce the expected red-shift behavior of the deceleration parameter, density parameters and luminosity distance.     

On the growth of perturbations in interacting dark energy and dark matter fluids

The covariant generalizations of the background dark sector coupling suggested in Mangano, Miele and Pettorino (Mod Phys Lett A 18:831, 2003) are considered. The evolution of perturbations is studied with detailed attention to interaction rate that is proportional to the product of dark matter and dark energy densities. It is shown that some classes of models with coupling of this type do not suffer from early time instabilities in strong coupling regime.     

Space-time curvature due to quantum vacuum fluctuations: An alternative to dark energy?

It is pointed out that quantum vacuum fluctuations may give rise to a curvature of space-time equivalent to the curvature currently attributed to dark energy. A simple calculation is made, involving plausible assumptions within the framework of quantized gravity, which suggests that the value of the dark energy density is roughly given by the product of Newton's constant times the quantity m⁶c⁴?−4, m being a typical mass of elementary particles. The estimate is compatible with observations.     

A dynamical approach to the cosmological constant

This Letter presents an exact analytic solution of a simple cosmological model in presence of both nonrelativistic matter and scalar field where Einstein's cosmological constant Λ appears as an integration constant. Unlike Einstein's cosmological constant ascribed to vacuum energy, the dark energy density and the energy density of the ordinary matter decrease at the same rate during the expansion of the universe. Therefore the model is free of the coincidence problem. Comparing the predictions using this model with the current cosmological observations shows that the results are consistent.     

Couplings between holographic dark energy and dark matter

We consider the interaction between dark matter and dark energy in the framework of holographic dark energy, and propose a natural and physically plausible form of interaction, in which the interacting term is proportional to the product of the powers of the dark matter and dark energy densities. We investigate the cosmic evolution in such models. The impact of the coupling on the dark matter and dark energy components may be asymmetric. While the dark energy decouples from the dark matter at late time, just as other components of the cosmic fluid become decoupled as the universe expands, interestingly, the dark matter may actually become coupled to the dark energy at late time. We shall call such a phenomenon incoupling. We use the latest type Ia supernovae data from the SCP team, baryon acoustics oscillation data from SDSS and 2dF surveys, and the position of the first peak of the CMB angular power spectrum to constrain the model. We find that the interaction term which is proportional to the first power product of the dark energy and dark matter densities gives an excellent fit to the current data.     

Dynamics of a spherically symmetric inhomogeneous coupled dark energy model with coupling term proportional to non relatvistic matter

The quasi-local scalar variables approach is applied to a spherically symmetric inhomogeneous Lemaître–Tolman–Bondi metric containing a mixture of non-relativistic cold dark matter and coupled dark energy with constant equation of state. The quasi-local coupling term considered is proportional to the quasi-local cold dark matter energy density and a quasi-local Hubble factor-like scalar via a coupling constant \(\alpha \). The autonomous numerical system obtained from the evolution equations is classified for different choices of the free parameters: the adiabatic constant of the dark energy w and \(\alpha \). The presence of a past attractor in a non-physical region of the energy densities phase-space of the system makes the coupling term non physical when the energy flows from the matter to the dark energy in order to avoid negative values of the dark energy density in the past. On the other hand, if the energy flux goes from dark energy to dark matter, the past attractor lies in a physical region. The system is also numerically solved for some interesting initial profiles leading to different configurations: an ever expanding mixture, a scenario where the dark energy is completely consumed by the non-relativistic matter by means of the coupling term, a scenario where the dark energy disappears in the inner layers while the outer layers expand as a mixture of both sources, and, finally, a structure formation toy model scenario, where the inner shells containing the mixture collapse while the outer shells expand.     

Weak Gravity Conjecture and Holographic Dark Energy Model with Interaction and Spatial Curvature

In the paper, we apply the weak gravity conjecture to the holographic quintessence model of dark energy. Three different holographic dark energy models are considered: without the interaction in the non-flat universe; with interaction in the flat universe; with interaction in the non-flat universe. We find that
only in the models with the spatial curvature and interaction term proportional to the energy density of matter, it is possible for the weak gravity conjecture to be satisfied. And it seems that the weak gravity conjecture favors an open universe and the decaying of matter into dark energy.     

Dark energy interacting with dark matter and a third fluid: Possible EoS for this component

A cosmological model of dark energy interacting with dark matter and another general component of the universe is considered. The equations for the coincidence parameters r and s, which represent the ratios between dark energy and dark matter and the other cosmic fluid respectively, are analyzed in terms of the stability of stationary solutions. The obtained general results allow to shed some light on the equations of state of the three interacting fluids, due to the constraints imposed by the stability of the solutions. We found that for an interaction proportional to the sum of the dark energy density and the third fluid density, the hypothetical fluid must have positive pressure, which leads naturally to a cosmological scenario with radiation, unparticle or even some form of warm dark matter as the third interacting fluid.     

Top ten accelerating cosmological models

Recent astronomical observations indicate that the Universe is presently almost flat and undergoing a period of accelerated expansion. Basing on Einstein's general relativity all these observations can be explained by the hypothesis of a dark energy component in addition to cold dark matter (CDM). Because the nature of this dark energy is unknown, it was proposed some alternative scenario to explain the current accelerating Universe. The key point of this scenario is to modify the standard FRW equation instead of mysterious dark energy component. The standard approach to constrain model parameters, based on the likelihood method, gives a best-fit model and confidence ranges for those parameters. We always arbitrary choose the set of parameters which define a model which we compare with observational data. Because in the generic case, the introducing of new parameters improves a fit to the data set, there appears the problem of elimination of model parameters which can play an insufficient role. The Bayesian information criteria of model selection (BIC) is dedicated to promotion a set of parameters which should be incorporated to the model. We divide class of all accelerating cosmological models into two groups according to the two types of explanation acceleration of the Universe. Then the Bayesian framework of model selection is used to determine the set of parameters which gives preferred fit to the SNIa data. We find a few of flat cosmological models which can be recommend by the Bayes factor. We show that models with dark energy as a new fluid are favoured over models featuring a modified FRW equation.     

Phantom damping of matter perturbations

Cosmological scaling solutions are particularly important in solving the coincidence problem of dark energy. We derive the equations of sub-Hubble linear matter perturbations for a general scalar-field Lagrangian—including quintessence, tachyon, dilatonic ghost condensate and k-essence—and solve them analytically for scaling solutions. We find that matter perturbations are always damped if a phantom field is coupled to dark matter and identify the cases in which the gravitational potential is constant. This provides an interesting possibility to place stringent observational constraints on scaling dark energy models.     

The non-adiabatic pressure in general scalar field systems

We discuss the non-adiabatic or entropy perturbation, which controls the evolution of the curvature perturbation in the uniform density gauge, for a scalar field system minimally coupled to gravity with non-canonical action. We highlight the differences between the sound and the phase speed in these systems, and show that the non-adiabatic pressure perturbation vanishes in the single field case, resulting in the conservation of the curvature perturbation on large scales.     

Holographic dark energy with varying gravitational constant

We investigate the holographic dark energy scenario with a varying gravitational constant, in flat and non-flat background geometry. We extract the exact differential equations determining the evolution of the dark energy density-parameter, which include G-variation correction terms. Performing a low-redshift expansion of the dark energy equation of state, we provide the involved parameters as functions of the current density parameters, of the holographic dark energy constant and of the G-variation.