Rapidly Descending Dark Energy and the End of Cosmic Expansion

TL;DR

This paper explores a model where dark energy decreases rapidly, leading to the universe's end of expansion and transition into contraction, aligning with cyclic cosmology and quantum gravity ideas.

Contribution

It introduces a scenario where dark energy diminishes quickly, causing a rapid end to cosmic expansion, which is a novel approach compared to standard models.

Findings

The universe's accelerated expansion can cease within a short timescale.

A rapidly decreasing dark energy component leads to a contraction phase.

This scenario aligns with cyclic cosmology and quantum gravity conjectures.

Abstract

If dark energy is a form of quintessence driven by a scalar field $\phi$ evolving down a monotonically decreasing potential $V(\phi)$ that passes sufficiently below zero, the universe is destined to undergo a series of smooth transitions. The currently observed accelerated expansion will cease; soon thereafter, expansion will come to end altogether; and the universe will pass into a phase of slow contraction. In this paper, we consider how short the remaining period of expansion can be given current observational constraints on dark energy. We also discuss how this scenario fits naturally with cyclic cosmologies and recent conjectures about quantum gravity.