Quintessence in low-energy effective theory

Abstract

Considering a theory of Brans-Dicke gravity with general couplings of a heavy field, we derive the low-energy effective theory action in the universe of temperature much lower than the heavy field mass. Gravitational equations and the Brans-Dicke scalar field equation including an effective potential of the scalar field are obtained, which is induced through virtual interactions of the heavy field in the late-time universe. We find a deSitter cosmological solution stemming from the inverse power law effective potential of the scalar field and discuss the possibility that the late time acceleration of our universe can be described by means of the solution. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2018.