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Constraining quintessence models with integrated Sachs-Wolfe thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich cross-correlations: A comparative analysis of thawing, tracker, and scaling-freezing dynamics

Ayodeji Ibitoye1,2,3,*, Shiriny Akthar4, Md. Wali Hossain5, Amare Abebe2,6, Prabhakar Tiwari1,†, Xuelei Chen7, Jackson Said8,9, and Jacob Oloketuyi10,11

  • *Contact author: ayodeji.ibitoye@gtiit.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: prabhakar.tiwari@gtiit.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. D 113, 063509 – Published 3 March, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/grt1-234m

Abstract

We present constraints on quintessence dark energy models using the observational detection of the integrated Sachs-Wolfe (ISW)–thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich (tSZ) cross-correlation dataset. Our analysis compares three classes of quintessence dynamics: thawing, tracker, and scaling-freezing with the standard Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM) cosmology. Through a comprehensive likelihood analysis, we derive best-fit values and 68% confidence intervals for key cosmological parameters, finding Ωm=0.322−0.030+0.027 and σ8=0.735−0.035+0.045 for ΛCDM, with deviations in alternative models consistent within 1σ. For the thawing model, we consider an exponential potential with slope λ=0.736−0.227+0.270, while for the tracker and scaling-freezing models, we use inverse axionlike and double exponential potentials, respectively. Observationally, the tracker model yields n=5.651−1.604+1.625 and f=0.258−0.096+0.149, and the scaling-freezing model gives λ1=0.405−0.322+0.293 and λ2=23.226−7.258+7.975. The dimensionless tSZ amplitude (W˜SZ) and cosmic infrared background (CIB) parameters are tightly constrained across all models, providing additional insights into astrophysical foregrounds. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of ISW-tSZ cross-correlations as a probe of dark energy dynamics, with the thawing quintessence model yielding the lowest χmin2 among the tested scenarios, and highlight the need for future high-precision measurements to distinguish between quintessence models and ΛCDM.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 063509– Published 3 March, 2026
  • Received 27 August 2025
  • Accepted 12 February 2026
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