From brane assisted inflation to quintessence through a single scalar field

Abstract

We explore within the context of brane cosmology whether it is possible to obtain both early inflation and accelerated expansion during the present epoch through the dynamics of the same scalar field in an exponential potential. Considerations from successful inflation and viable radiation and matter dominated eras impose constraints on the parameters of the potential. We find that the additional requirement of late time quintessence behavior in conformity with present observations necessitates the inclusion of two exponential terms in the potential.