Puzzles of the dark energy in the universe - phantom

TL;DR

This paper explores the properties and interactions of phantom dark energy particles, highlighting their negative energy characteristics, thermodynamic behavior, and a novel collision phenomenon analogous to quantum pair creation.

Contribution

It introduces a simple physics-based model of phantom particles, analyzing their thermodynamics and collision behavior, revealing unique effects like impossible collisions at equal masses.

Findings

Phantom energy density increases with the universe's expansion.

Collision of identical-mass phantom and standard particles is only possible at rest.

A classical analogy to quantum pair creation is established.

Abstract

This paper is devoted to some simple approach based on general physics tools to describe the physical properties of a hypothetical particle which can be the source of dark energy in the Universe known as phantom. Phantom is characterized by the fact that it possesses negative momentum and kinetic energy and that it gives large negative pressure which acts as antigravity. We consider phantom harmonic oscillator in comparison to a standard harmonic oscillator. By using the first law of thermodynamics we explain why the energy density of the Universe grows when it is filled with phantom. We also show how the collision of phantom with a standard particle leads to exploration of energy from the former by the latter (i.e. from phantom to the standard) if their masses are different. The most striking of our conclusions is that the collision of phantom and standard particles of the same masses is impossible unless both of them are at rest and suddenly start moving with the opposite velocities and kinetic energies. This effect is a classic analogue of a quantum mechanical particle pair creation in a strong electric field or in physical vacuum.