A comparison of perturbations in fluid and scalar field models of dark energy

Abstract

We compare perturbations in a fluid model of dark energy with those in a scalar field. As compared to the $\Lambda$CDM model, large scale matter power spectrum is suppressed in fluid model as well as in a generic quintessence dark energy model.To check the efficacy of fluid description of dark energy in emulating a scalar field, we consider a potential which gives the same background evolution as a fluid with a constant equation of state. We show that for sub-Hubble scales, a fluid model effectively emulates a scalar field model. At larger scales, where dark energy perturbations may play a significant role, the fluid analogy breaks down and the evolution of matter density contrast depends on individual scalar field models.