A simple parametrisation for coupled dark energy

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple linear parametrisation for coupled dark energy models, allowing flexible evolution of the dark energy equation of state and fitting well with observational data, revealing potential dark sector interactions.

Contribution

It proposes a novel linear parametrisation for coupled dark energy that simplifies constraints and accommodates diverse time evolutions, including non-minimal couplings.

Findings

CMB data favors a non-zero coupling with energy transfer from dark energy to dark matter.

Weak lensing slightly favors energy transfer from dark matter to dark energy.

Dark energy equation of state shows significant deviation from -1.

Abstract

As an alternative to the popular parametrisations of the dark energy equation of state, we construct a quintessence model where the scalar field has a linear dependence on the number of e-folds. Constraints on more complex models are typically limited by the degeneracies that increase with the number of parameters. The proposed parametrisation conveniently constrains the evolution of the dark energy equation of state as it allows for a wide variety of time evolutions. We also consider a non-minimal coupling to cold dark matter. We fit the model with Planck and KiDS observational data. The CMB favours a non-vanishing coupling with energy transfer from dark energy to dark matter. Conversely, gravitational weak lensing measurements slightly favour energy transfer from dark matter to dark energy, with a substantial departure of the dark energy equation of state from -1.