Proofs on singularity-free solutions and scalarization in nonlinear Einstein-scalar-Gauss–Bonnet cosmology

Abstract The search for singularity-free cosmological solutions has become a highly active topic in the physics community in recent years, yet existing results are largely numerical or based on asymptotic analysis. To place these developments on a firm mathematical footing, we rigorously establish the global existence and estimates of a class of singularity-free cosmological solutions to the fully nonlinear Einstein-scalar system in Einstein-scalar-Gauss–Bonnet gravity with quadratic coupling, providing proofs of previous numerical results in mathematical perspective. We further prove nonlinear scalarization triggered by a Gauss–Bonnet-induced tachyonic instability. Our analysis relies on a novel structural identity, the power identity, which yields decoupled differential inequalities for the Hubble parameter. This framework provides a new method for converting numerical evidence into a mathematical proof for nonlinear systems.