SUSY QCD and quintessence

Recent data point in the direction of a cosmological constant dominated universe. We investigate the role of supersymmetric QCD with $N_f<N_c$ as a possible candidate for a dynamical cosmological constant (“quintessence”). When $N_f>1,$ the multiscalar dynamics is fully taken into account, showing that a certain degree of flavor symmetry in the initial conditions is necessary in order to attain the required late-time “tracking” attractor behavior. A possible solution to the problem of long-range interactions of gravitational strength is proposed. Finally we show how, as a consequence of the interaction with the standard model fields, the early cosmological evolution of the scalar fields may be dramatically altered, and the approach to the tracking behavior may become much more efficient.