A flat (k=0) homogeneous and isotropic universe with scale factor a(t) is filled with a scalar field ϕ(t) with potential V(ϕ). Its evolution satisfies the Friedmann and scalar field equations,
H2=3MPl21(21ϕ˙2+c2V(ϕ)),ϕ¨+3Hϕ˙+c2dϕdV=0
where H(t)=aa˙ is the Hubble parameter, MPl is the reduced Planck mass, and dots denote derivatives with respect to cosmic time t, e.g. ϕ˙≡dϕ/dt.
(a) Use these equations to derive the Raychaudhuri equation, expressed in the form:
H˙=−2MPl21ϕ˙2
(b) Consider the following ansatz for the scalar field evolution,
ϕ(t)=ϕ0lntanh(λt)
where λ,ϕ0 are constants. Find the specific cosmological solution,
H(t)a(t)=λMPl2ϕ02coth(2λt)=a0[sinh(2λt)]ϕ02/2MPl2,a0 constant.
(c) Hence, show that the Hubble parameter can be expressed in terms of ϕ as
H(ϕ)=λMP12ϕ02cosh(ϕ0ϕ),
and that the scalar field ansatz solution ( † ) requires the following form for the potential:
V(ϕ)=c22λ2ϕ02[(2MPl23ϕ02−1)cosh2(ϕ0ϕ)+1]
(d) Assume that the given parameters in V(ϕ) are such that 2/3<ϕ02/MPl2<2. Show that the asymptotic limit for the cosmological solution as t→0 exhibits decelerating power law evolution and that there is an accelerating solution as t→∞, that is,
t→0,t→∞,ϕ→−∞,ϕ→0,a(t)∼tϕ02/2MPl2a(t)∼exp(λϕ02t/MPl2).
Find the time tacc at which the solution transitions from deceleration to acceleration.