Spatially Homogeneous Einstein-Aether Cosmological Models: Scalar Fields with a Generalized Harmonic Potential

Abstract: Inflationary spatially homogeneous cosmological models within an Einstein-Aether gravitational framework are investigated. The matter source is assumed to be a scalar field which is coupled to the aether field expansion and shear scalars through the generalized harmonic scalar field potential. The evolution equations are expressed in terms of expansion-normalized variables to produce an autonomous system of ordinary differential equations suitable for numerical and local stability analysis. An analysis of the local stability of the equilibrium points indicate that there exists a range of values of the parameters in which there exists an accelerating expansionary future attractor.