Averaging Generalized Scalar Field Cosmologies I: Locally Rotationally Symmetric Bianchi III and open Friedmann-Lema\^itre-Robertson-Walker models

Abstract

Scalar field cosmologies with a generalized harmonic potential and a matter fluid with a barotropic Equation of State (EoS) with barotropic index $\gamma$ for Locally Rotationally Symmetric (LRS) Bianchi III metric and open Friedmann-Lema\^itre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric are investigated. Methods from the theory of averaging of nonlinear dynamical systems are used to prove that time-dependent systems and their corresponding time-averaged versions have the same late-time dynamics. Therefore, simple time-averaged systems determine the future asymptotic behavior. Depending on values of barotropic index $\gamma$ late-time attractors of physical interests for LRS Bianchi III metric are Bianchi III flat spacetime, matter dominated FLRW universe (mimicking de Sitter, quintessence or zero acceleration solutions) and matter-curvature scaling solution. For open FLRW metric late-time attractors are a matter dominated FLRW universe and Milne solution. With this approach, oscillations entering nonlinear system through Klein-Gordon (KG) equation can be controlled and smoothed out as the Hubble factor $H$ - acting as a time-dependent perturbation parameter - tends monotonically to zero. Numerical simulations are presented as evidence of such behaviour.