Exponential quintessence with momentum coupling to dark matter

Abstract We present updated constraints on an interacting dark energy-dark matter model with pure momentum transfer, where dark energy is in the form of a quintessence scalar field with an exponential potential. We run a suite of MCMC analyses using the DESI DR2 BAO measurements, in combination with CMB data from Planck and supernovae data from DESY5. In contrast to the standard case of uncoupled quintessence, we find that values for the potential's slope parameter λ ≥ √(2), which are conjectured by string theory scenarios, are not excluded. If λ is fixed to such a value, we find that the data favour the negative coupling branch of the model, which is the branch exhibiting late-time growth suppression. We also derive 95% upper limits on the sum of the neutrino masses, finding ∑ m ν < 0.06 eV (∑ m ν < 0.16 eV) when λ is fixed (varied). Our results motivate further studies on dynamical dark energy models that obey string theory bounds and can be constrained with cosmological observations.