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We consider a Brans-Dicke scalar field stabilized by a general power law potential with a power index n at a finite equilibrium value. Redshifting matter induces oscillations of the scalar field around its equilibrium due to the scalar field coupling to the trace of the energy momentum tensor. If the stabilizing potential is sufficiently steep these high frequency oscillations are consistent with observational and experimental constraints for arbitrary values of the Brans-Dicke parameter. We study analytically and numerically the equation of state of these high frequency oscillations in terms of the parameters and n and find the corresponding evolution of the universe scale factor. We find that the equation of state parameter can be negative and less than -1 but it is not related to the evolution of the scale factor in the usual way. Nevertheless, accelerating expansion is found for a certain parameter range. Our analysis applies also to oscillations of the size of extra dimensions (the radion field) around an equilibrium value. This duality between self-coupled Brans-Dicke and radion dynamics is applicable for =-1+1/D where D is the number of extra dimensions.
Leandros Perivolaropoulos (Tue,) studied this question.