Tachyon cosmology, supernovae data and the Big Brake singularity

TL;DR

This paper compares supernovae data with tachyon cosmological models, identifying a subset that predicts a novel Big Brake singularity, offering an alternative universe evolution scenario beyond the standard model.

Contribution

It introduces a one-parameter family of tachyon models consistent with observations that predict a new Big Brake singularity in the universe's future.

Findings

A subset of models fits supernovae data well.

Some models predict a Big Brake singularity.

Alternative universe evolution scenarios are possible.

Abstract

We compare the existing observational data on type Ia Supernovae with the evolutions of the universe predicted by a one-parameter family of tachyon models which we have introduced recently in paper \cite{we-tach}. Among the set of the trajectories of the model which are compatible with the data there is a consistent subset for which the universe ends up in a new type of soft cosmological singularity dubbed Big Brake. This opens up yet another scenario for the future history of the universe besides the one predicted by the standard $\Lambda$CDM model.