Holographic Ricci dark energy in Randall-Sundrum braneworld: Avoidance of big rip and steady state future

In the holographic Ricci dark energy (RDE) model, the parameter alpha plays an important role in determining the evolutionary behavior of the dark energy. When alpha < 1/2, the RDE will exhibit a quintom feature, i.e., the equation of state of dark energy will evolve across the cosmological constant boundary w = -1. Observations show that the parameter alpha is indeed smaller than 1/2, so the late-time evolution of RDE will be really like a phantom energy. Therefore, it seems that the big rip is inevitable in this model. On the other hand, the big rip is actually inconsistent with the theoretical framework of the holographic model of dark energy. To avoid the big rip, we appeal to the extra dimension physics. In this Letter, we investigate the cosmological evolution of the RDE in the braneworld cosmology. It is of interest to find that for the far future evolution Of RDE in a Randall-Sundrum braneworld, there is an attractor solution where the steady state (de Sitter) finale occurs, in stead of the big rip. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.