Evolution equations dynamical system of the Lemaître–Tolman–Bondi metric containing coupled dark energy

Abstract

In this paper, we consider inhomogeneous spherically symmetric models based on the Lemaître–Tolman–Bondi (LTB) metric, assuming as its source an interactive mixture of ordinary baryonic matter, cold dark matter and dark energy with a coupling term proportional to the addition of energy densities of both dark fluids. We reduce Einstein’s field equations to a first-order seven-dimensional autonomous dynamical system of evolution equations and algebraic constraints. We study in detail the evolution of the energy density and spatial curvature profiles along the phase–space by means of two subspace projections: a three-dimensional projection associated with the solutions of the Friedman–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker metric (invariant subspace) and a four-dimensional projection describing the evolution of the inhomogeneous fluctuations. We also classify and study the critical points of the system in comparison with previous work on similar sources, as well as solving numerically the equations for initial energy density and curvature profiles that lead to a spherical bounce whose collapsing time we estimate appropriately.