Two models unifying warm inflation with dark matter and dark energy

Abstract

Two models that unify warm inflation with dark matter and dark energy are proposed. In the models, a single scalar field is responsible for the early expansion of the universe through the process of dissipative warm inflation and then acts as both dark matter and dark energy in subsequent stages. The first model is based on a noncanonical field with the Lagrangian density $\mathcal{L}=F(X)-V(\phi)$, where the potential is dominant at the slow-roll inflationary epoch and negligible in subsequent stages. The second model takes advantage of a $k$-essence Lagrangian density having the coupled form $\mathcal{L}=F(X)V(\phi)$. For both models, equations of the evolution for the fields and observational constraints are presented, and an evolution law describing how the energy density $\rho$ and state parameter $w$ scale with the scale factor $a$ is obtained.