Unifying dark matter, dark energy and inflation with a fuzzy dark fluid

TL;DR

This paper proposes a unified scalar field model with non-minimal gravity coupling and a Mexican hat potential that can simultaneously explain dark matter, dark energy, and inflation, offering a comprehensive cosmological framework.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scalar field model with specific potential and coupling that unifies dark matter, dark energy, and inflation within a single theoretical framework.

Findings

Scalar field mimics dark matter and dark energy after inflation

Model reproduces fuzzy dark matter behavior

Unified explanation for dark components and inflation

Abstract

Scalar fields appear in many cosmological models, in particular in order to provide explanations for dark energy and inflation, but also to emulate dark matter. In this paper, we show that it is possible for a scalar field to replace simultaneously dark matter, dark energy and inflation by assuming the existence of a non-minimal coupling to gravity, a Mexican hat potential, and a spontaneous symmetry breaking before inflation. After inflation, the scalar field behaves like a dark fluid, mimicking dark energy and dark matter, and has a dark matter behaviour similar to fuzzy dark matter.