Dynamics of cosmological scalar fields

arXiv (Cornell University)

Abstract

This paper reviews the dynamics of an isotropic and homogeneous cosmological scalar field. A general approach to the solution of the Einstein-Klein-Gordon equations is developed, which does not require slow-roll or other approximations. General conclusions about the qualitative behaviour of the solutions can be drawn, and examples of explicit solutions for some interesting cases are given. It is also shown how to find scalar potentials giving rise to a predetermined scalar field behaviour and associated evolution of the scale factor.

Authors 1

1. J.W. van Holten corresponding Aachen

   Leiden University · National Institute for Subatomic Physics

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University , Leiden NL

   Nikhef , Amsterdam NL and