Generalized power expansions in cosmology

It is given an algorithm to obtain generalized power asymptotic expansions of the solutions of the Einstein equations arising for several homogeneous cosmological models. This allows to investigate their behavior near the initial singularity or for large times. An implementation of this algorithm in the CAS system Maple V Release 4 is described and detailed calculations for three equations are shown.Comment: 22 pages, LaTeX, elsart.sty. To be published in Computer Physics Communications Thematic Issue "Computer Algebra in Physics Research

Scalar Field Cosmologies with Viscous Fluid

We investigate cosmological models with a free scalar field and a viscous fluid. We find exact solutions for a linear and nonlinear viscosity pressure. Both yield singular and bouncing solutions. In the first regime, a de Sitter stage is asymptotically stable, while in the second case we find power-law evolutions for vanishing cosmological constant.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX. To be published in International Journal of Modern Physics

Relaxation dominated cosmological expansion

The behavior near the singularity of an isotropic, homogeneous cosmological model with a viscous fluid source is investigated. This turns out to be a relaxation dominated regime. Full extended irreversible thermodynamics is used, and comparison with results of the truncated theory is made. New singular behaviors are found and it is shown that a relaxation dominated inflationary epoch may exist for fluids with small heat capacity.Comment: 7 pages, LaTeX. To be published in Physics Letters

Perfect fluid cosmologies with varying light speed

We have found exact constant solutions for the cosmological density parameter using a generalization of general relativity that incorporates a cosmic time-variation of the velocity of light in vacuum and the Newtonian gravitation constant. We have determined the conditions when these solutions are attractors for an expanding universe and solved the problems of the Standard Big Bang model for perfect fluids.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX 2.09. To be published in International Journal of Modern Physics

Dissipative cosmological solutions

The exact general solution to the Einstein equations in a homogeneous Universe with a full causal viscous fluid source for the bulk viscosity index $m=1/2$ is found. We have investigated the asymptotic stability of Friedmann and de Sitter solutions, the former is stable for $m\ge 1/2$ and the latter for $m\le 1/2$. The comparison with results of the truncated theory is made. For $m=1/2$, it was found that families of solutions with extrema no longer remain in the full case, and they are replaced by asymptotically Minkowski evolutions. These solutions are monotonic.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX 2.09, 1 figure. To be published in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Interacting quintessence and the coincidence problem

We investigate the role of a possible coupling of dark matter and dark energy. In particular, we explore the consequences of such an interaction for the coincidence problem, i.e., for the question, why the energy densities of dark matter and dark energy are of the same order just at the present epoch. We demonstrate, that, with the help of a suitable coupling, it is possible to reproduce any scaling solution $\rho_X \propto \rho_M a^\xi$, where $a$ is the scale factor of the Robertson-Walker metric and $\xi$ is a constant parameter. $\rho_X$ and $\rho_M$ are the densities of dark energy and dark matter, respectively. Furthermore, we show that an interaction between dark matter and dark energy can drive the transition from an early matter dominated era to a phase of accelerated expansion with a stable, stationary ratio of the energy densities of both components.Comment: 3 pages, contribution to the Tenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting, Rio de Janeiro, 20-26 July 200

Symmetries leading to inflation

We present here the general transformation that leaves unchanged the form of the field equations for perfect fluid Friedmann--Robertson--Walker and Bianchi V cosmologies. The symmetries found can be used as algorithms for generating new cosmological models from existing ones. A particular case of the general transformation is used to illustrate the crucial role played by the number of scalar fields in the occurrence of inflation. Related to this, we also study the existence and stability of Bianchi V power law solutions.Comment: 16 pages, uses RevTeX 4, to appear in Phys. Rev.