Thermo-Coupled Early Dark Energy

TL;DR

This paper proposes a thermo-coupled scalar field model with thermal relics to dynamically address the Hubble tension, offering an alternative to ad hoc steep potentials in early dark energy theories.

Contribution

It introduces a novel thermo-coupled scalar field mechanism linked to thermal relics, providing a natural way to reproduce early dark energy dynamics without arbitrary potentials.

Findings

Identifies parameter space for thermo-coupled scenario

Analyzes background phenomenology and neutrino back-reaction

Suggests further numerical work for observational constraints

Abstract

Early dark energy solutions to the Hubble tension introduce an additional scalar field which is frozen at early times but becomes dynamical around matter-radiation equality. In order to alleviate the tension, the scalar's share of the total energy density must rapidly shrink from $\sim 10\%$ at the onset of matter domination to $\ll 1\%$ by recombination. This typically requires a steep potential that is imposed $\textit{ad hoc}$ rather than emerging from a concrete particle physics model. Here, we point out an alternative possibility: a homogeneous scalar field coupled quadratically to a cosmological background of light thermal relics (such as the Standard Model neutrino) will acquire an effective potential which can reproduce the dynamics necessary to alleviate the tension. We identify the relevant parameter space for this "thermo-coupled" scenario and study its unique phenomenology at the background level, including the back-reaction on the neutrino mass. Follow-up numerical work is necessary to determine the constraints placed on the model by early-time measurements.