Related papers: Stability Issues for w < -1 Dark Energy
Observational evidence suggests that the large scale dynamics of the universe is presently dominated by dark energy, meaning a non-luminous cosmological constituent with a negative value of the pressure to density ratio $w=P/\rho$, which…
In this brief review, we examine the theoretical consistency and viability of phantom dark energy. Almost all data sets from cosmological probes are compatible with dark energy of the phantom variety (i.e., equation-of-state parameter…
Recently the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Collaboration presented evidence that the equation of state $w$ of the dark energy is varying, or $w \simeq -0.948$ if it is constant. In either case, the dark energy cannot be due to a cosmological…
Dark energy constraints have forced viable alternatives that differ substantially from a cosmological constant Lambda to have an equation of state w that evolves across the phantom divide set by Lambda. Naively, crossing this divide makes…
We show that in single scalar field models of the dark energy with equations of state satisfying $w \equiv p / \rho < -1$, the effective Lagrangian for fluctuations about the homogeneous background has a wrong sign spatial kinetic term. In…
We find that if we live at the center of an inhomogeneity with total density contrast of roughly 0.1, dark energy is not a cosmological constant at 95% confidence level. Observational constraints on the equation of state of dark energy, w,…
We have reanalysed constraints on the equation of state parameter, w_Q = P/rho, of the dark energy, using several cosmological data sets and relaxing the usual constraint w_Q > -1. We find that combining Cosmic Microwave Background, large…
Some issues of the cosmological constant or dark energy are briefly reviewed. There are an increasing number of observations that constrain the equation of state of dark energy more stringently and favor the time-independent cosmological…
Entropy bounds render quantum corrections to the cosmological constant $\Lambda$ finite. Under certain assumptions, the natural value of $\Lambda$ is of order the observed dark energy density $\sim 10^{-10} {\rm eV}^4$, thereby resolving…
The cosmological "equation of state parameter", w, is equal to -1 for a true cosmological constant, and is greater than -1 for quintessence. There is a widespread reluctance to consider the remaining possibility, w < -1, though in fact…
We outline a dynamical dark energy scenario whose signatures may be simultaneously tested by astronomical observations and laboratory experiments. The dark energy is a field with slightly sub-gravitational couplings to matter, a logarithmic…
The dark energy equation of state for theories with either a discretuum or continuum distribution of vacua is investigated. In the discretuum case the equation of state is constant $w=p/\rho=-1$. The continuum case may be realized by an…
The nonlinear oscillations of a scalar field are shown to have cosmological equations of state with $w = p / \rho$ ranging from $-1 < w < 1$. We investigate the possibility that the dark energy is due to such oscillations.
Acceleration of the universe might be driven by a continuous elastic medium -- elastic dark energy (Bucher and Spergel 1999). Elastic dark energy can stably support equations of state with pressure to energy ratio w > -4/3. Stable expansion…
We investigate a generalized power-law dark energy equation of state of the form $p = w\rho - \beta\rho^m$ in a flat FLRW universe, analyzing its dynamical stability and thermodynamic consistency. The model exhibits a rich phase space…
We combine recent measurements of Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies, Supernovae luminosity distances and Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations to derive constraints on the dark energy equation of state w in the redshift range 0<z<2, using a…
Current cosmological data puts increasing pressure on models of dark energy in the freezing class, e.g. early dark energy or those with equation of state $w$ substantially different from $-1$. We investigate to what extent data will…
Dark energy away from a cosmological constant $\Lambda$ -- like early universe inflation that ends -- can be understood in terms of well defined physical behaviors. These guide dark energy into thawing or freezing classes, with $w_0$--$w_a$…
We investigate, in a unified and general way, the thermodynamic properties of dark energy with an arbitrary, varying equation-of-state parameter w(a). We find that all quantities are well defined and regular for every w(a), including at the…
For a general dark-energy equation of state, we estimate the maximum possible radius of massive structures that are not destabilized by the acceleration of the cosmological expansion. A comparison with known stable structures constrains the…