One-parametric description for scalar field dark matter potentials

TL;DR

This paper introduces a unified parameterization for scalar field dark matter potentials, analyzing their cosmological evolution and comparing their viability to the standard Cold Dark Matter model.

Contribution

It proposes a single-parameter framework that encompasses various scalar field potentials and assesses their cosmological viability.

Findings

The free (quadratic) potential is most favored among the models studied.

All scalar field models are less compatible with observations than the standard Cold Dark Matter model.

The unified parameterization simplifies the comparison of different scalar field potentials.

Abstract

We study the cosmological evolution for a scalar field dark matter model, by considering a parameterization of the evolution equations that allow us to unify in a single parameter a family of potentials: quadratic (free case), trigonometric (Axion-like case), and hyperbolic. After exploring the cosmological dynamics of this model, we perform a statistical analysis to study the viability of such model in comparison with the standard Cold Dark Matter model. We found that the free case is preferred over the other scalar field potentials, but in any case all of them are disfavored by the cosmological observations with respect to the standard model.