Exact general solutions for cosmological scalar field evolution in a background-dominated expansion
We derive exact general solutions (as opposed to attractor particular solutions) and corresponding first integrals for the evolution of a scalar field $\phi$ in a universe dominated by a background fluid with equation of state parameter wB. In addition to the previously examined linear [V($\phi$)=V 0 $\phi$] and quadratic [V($\phi$)=V 0 $\phi$ 2 ] potentials, we show that exact solutions exist for the power-law potential V($\phi$)=V 0 $\phi$ n with n=4(1+w B )/(1-w B )+2 and n=2(1+w B )/(1-w B ). These correspond to the potentials V($\phi$)=V 0 $\phi$ 6 and V($\phi$)=V 0 $\phi$ 2 for matter domination and V($\phi$)=V 0 $\phi$ 10 and V($\phi$)=V 0 $\phi$ 4 for radiation domination. The $\phi$ 6 and $\phi$ 10 potentials can yield either oscillatory or nonoscillatory evolution, and we use the first integrals to determine how the initial conditions map onto each form of evolution. The exponential potential yields an exact solution for a stiff/kination (w B =1) background. We use this exact solution to derive an analytic expression for the evolution of the equation of state parameter, $w_\phi$, for this case.