Cosmological Scaling Solutions and Cross-coupling Exponential Potential

Abstract

We present a phase-space analysis of cosmology containing multiple scalar fields with a positive or negative cross-coupling exponential potential. We show that there exist power-law kinetic-potential-scaling solutions for a sufficiently flat positive potential or for a steep negative potential. The former is the unique late-time attractor, but it is difficult to yield assisted inflation. The later is never stable in an expanding universe. Moreover, for a steep negative potential there exists a kinetic-dominated regime in which each solution is a late-time attractor. In the presence of ordinary matter these scaling solutions with a negative cross-coupling potential are found unstable. We briefly discuss the physical consequences of these results.