Averaging generalized scalar field cosmologies I: locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi III and open Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker models

Scalar field cosmologies with a generalized harmonic potential and a matter fluid with a barotropic Equation of State (EoS) with barotropic index gamma for locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi III metric and open Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric are investigated. Methods from the theory of averaging of nonlinear dynamical systems are used to prove that time-dependent systems and their corresponding time-averaged versions have the same late-time dynamics. Therefore, simple time-averaged systems determine the future asymptotic behavior. Depending on values of barotropic index gamma late-time attractors of physical interests for LRS Bianchi III metric are Bianchi III flat spacetime, matter dominated FLRW universe (mimicking de Sitter, quintessence or zero acceleration solutions) and matter-curvature scaling solution. For open FLRW metric late-time attractors are a matter dominated FLRW universe and Milne solution. With this approach, oscillations entering nonlinear system through Klein-Gordon (KG) equation can be controlled and smoothed out as the Hubble factor H - acting as a time-dependent perturbation parameter - tends monotonically to zero. Numerical simulations are presented as evidence of such behaviour.

Automated summary

This study investigates scalar field cosmologies with a generalized harmonic potential and a matter fluid with a barotropic Equation of State for LRS Bianchi III metric and open FLRW metric. It is shown that time-dependent systems and their time-averaged versions have the same late-time dynamics, determining future asymptotic behavior. Depending on the barotropic index gamma, late-time attractors for both metric types are identified, and oscillations in the nonlinear system are controlled as the Hubble factor tends to zero. Numerical simulations support these findings.