Exploring scalar field dynamics with Gaussian processes
  The origin of the accelerated expansion of the Universe remains an unsolved
mystery in Cosmology. In this work we consider a spatially flat
Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) Universe with non-relativistic matter and a
single scalar field contributing to the energy density of the Universe.
Properties of this scalar field, like potential, kinetic energy, equation of
state etc. are reconstructed from Supernovae and BAO data using Gaussian
processes. We also reconstruct energy conditions and kinematic variables of
expansion, such as the jerk and the slow roll parameter. We find that the
reconstructed scalar field variables and the kinematic quantities are
consistent with a flat Lambda-CDM Universe. Further we find that the null
energy condition is satisfied for the redshift range of the Supernovae data
considered in the paper but, the strong energy condition is violated.
