Loop Corrections to Scalar Quintessence Potentials

Abstract

The stability of scalar quintessence potentials under quantum fluctuations is investigated both for uncoupled models and models with a coupling to fermions. We find that uncoupled models are usually stable in the late universe. However, a coupling to fermions is severely restricted. We check whether a graviton induced fermion-quintessence coupling is compatible with this restriction.

Contributed to XXXVIIth Rencontres de Moriond Workshop on "The Cosmological Model", Les Arcs, France, 16-23 March 2002