Cosmological models with quintessence : dynamical properties and observational constraints / Shao-Chin Cindy Ng.

Bibliography: leaves 100-106.v, 107 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.Studies different models of "quintessence", in particular, a quintessence arising from an ultra-light pseudo Nambu-Goldstone boson. Overviews dynamical properties for these models using phase-space analyses to study attractor and tracker solutions. Studies high-redshift type Ia supernovae constraints on these models. Studies the impact of a simple phenomenological model for supernovae luminosity evolution on the PNGB models and the potentials of a future supernovae data set to discriminate the PNGB models over the other quintessence models. Studies gravitational lensing statistics of high luminosity quasars upon the quintessence models.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physics and Mathematical Physics, 200