Scalar Field Cosmological Models With Hard Potential Walls

Abstract

The global behavior of scalar field cosmological models with very hard potential walls is investigated via the simple example of an exponentially steep potential well. It is found that the solutions exhibit a non-trivial oscillatory behavior in the approach to an initial space-time singularity. This behavior can be interpreted as being due to the inability of the scalar field to negotiate the walls of the steep potential well.

9 Pages, 4 figures

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