Scalar Cosmology with Multi-exponential Potentials

TL;DR

This paper classifies power-law and de Sitter solutions in scalar cosmologies with multi-exponential potentials, revealing overlooked solutions and connecting them to exotic S-brane configurations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive classification of critical points in multi-scalar cosmologies with general exponential potentials, including new solutions and their numerical interpolations.

Findings

Classification of critical points for arbitrary scalar numbers and potentials

Identification of previously overlooked solutions in the literature

Numerical examples showing interpolation between critical points

Abstract

We investigate cosmologies with an arbitrary number of scalars and the most general multi-exponential potential. By formulating the equations of motion in terms of autonomous systems we complete the classification of power-law and de Sitter solutions as critical points, e.g. attractor and repeller solutions, in terms of the scalar couplings. Many of these solutions have been overlooked in the literature. We provide specific examples for double and triple exponential potentials with one and two scalars, where we find numerical solutions, which interpolate between the critical points. Some of these correspond to the reduction of new exotic S-brane solutions.