Three-form cosmology

TL;DR

This paper explores the cosmological implications of self-interacting three-forms, showing they can produce diverse isotropic backgrounds including acceleration and phantom crossing, relevant for inflation and dark energy models.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analysis of three-form fields in cosmology, including analytical and numerical solutions, highlighting their potential to explain inflation and dark energy phenomena.

Findings

Can generate isotropic backgrounds with acceleration

Exhibits phantom crossing behavior

Provides analytical and numerical solutions

Abstract

Cosmology of self-interacting three-forms is investigated. The minimally coupled canonical theory can naturally generate a variety of isotropic background dynamics, including scaling, possibly transient acceleration and phantom crossing. An intuitive picture of the cosmological dynamics is presented employing an effective potential. Numerical solutions and analytical approximations are provided for scenarios which are potentially important for inflation or dark energy.