Quantifying scalar field dynamics with DESI 2024 Y1 BAO measurements

Quintessence scalar fields are a natural candidate for evolving dark energy. Unlike the phenomenological w₀w₀ parameterization of the dark energy equation of state, they cannot accommodate the phantom regime of dark energy w (z) 0. 3. The tension under remains noticeable (n_<2. 8), when replacing two of the DESI BAO redshift bins with effective redshifts z₄₅₅=0. 51, and z₄₅₅=0. 706 with comparable BOSS DR 12 BAO measurements at z₄₅₅=0. 51, and z₄₅₅=0. 61. Canonical scalar fields as dark energy are successful in mitigating that tension.