A possible analogy between the dynamics of a skydiver and a scalar field: cosmological consequences

Abstract

The cosmological consequences of a slow rolling scalar field with constant kinetic term in analogy to the vertical movement of a skydiver after reaching terminal velocity are investigated. It is shown that the terminal scalar field hypothesis is quite realistic. In this approach, the scalar field potential is given by a quadratic function of the field. This model provides solutions in which the Universe was dominated in the past by a mixture of baryons and dark matter, is currently accelerating (as indicated by type Ia supernovae data), but will be followed by a contraction phase. The theoretical predictions of this model are consistent with current observations, therefore, a terminal scalar field is a viable candidate to dark energy.