Crossing the phantom divide with k-essence in braneworlds

Abstract

We study a flat three-brane in the presence of a linear k field with nonzero cosmological constant Λ4. In this model the crossing of the phantom divide (PD) occurs when the k-essence energy density becomes negative. We show that in the high energy regime the effective equation of state has a resemblance of a modified Chaplygin gas while in the low energy regime it becomes linear. We find a scale factor that begins from a singularity and evolves to a de Sitter stable stage while other solutions have a super-accelerated regime and end with a big rip. We use the energy conditions to show when the effective equation of state of the brane-universe crosses the PD. © 2010 World Scientific Publishing Company.