Updated observational constraints on quintessence dark energy models

TL;DR

This paper updates observational constraints on different quintessence dark energy models using recent cosmological data, considering Hubble tension and neutrino masses, to refine understanding of dark energy's nature.

Contribution

It provides new constraints on quintessence model parameters, accounting for Hubble tension and neutrino masses, which was not thoroughly explored before.

Findings

Constraints favor certain freezing models over thawing.

Hubble tension significantly affects parameter estimates.

Neutrino mass bounds vary across models.

Abstract

The recent GW170817 measurement favors the simplest dark energy models, such as a single scalar field. Quintessence models can be classified in two classes, freezing and thawing, depending on whether the equation of state decreases towards $-1$ or departs from it. In this paper we put observational constraints on the parameters governing the equations of state of tracking freezing, scaling freezing and thawing models using updated data, from the Planck 2015 release, joint light-curve analysis and baryonic acoustic oscillations. Because of the current tensions on the value of the Hubble parameter $H_0$, unlike previous authors, we let this parameter vary, which modifies significantly the results. Finally, we also derive constraints on neutrino masses in each of these scenarios.