Dark Energy vs. Dark Matter: Towards a Unifying Scalar Field?

TL;DR

This paper explores a unifying scalar field model that combines dark matter and dark energy into a single dark fluid, aiming to reinterpret cosmological observations and address the nature of these mysterious components.

Contribution

It proposes a complex scalar field model for a unifying dark fluid and discusses the potential choices to explain both dark matter and dark energy phenomena.

Findings

Review of cosmological constraints on dark fluid models

Development of a scalar field model for dark fluid

Discussion on potential functions for the scalar field

Abstract

The standard model of cosmology suggests the existence of two components, "dark matter" and "dark energy", which determine the fate of the Universe. Their nature is still under investigation, and no direct proof of their existences has emerged yet. There exist alternative models which reinterpret the cosmological observations, for example by replacing the dark energy/dark matter hypothesis by the existence of a unique dark component, the dark fluid, which is able to mimic the behaviour of both components. After a quick review of the cosmological constraints on this unifying dark fluid, we will present a model of dark fluid based on a complex scalar field and discuss the problem of the choice of the potential.