We present a unified framework for the study of late time cosmic acceleration. Using methods of effective field theory, we show that existing proposals for late time acceleration can be subsumed in a single framework, rather than many compartmentalized theories. We construct the most general action consistent with symmetry principles, derive the background and perturbation evolution equations, and demonstrate that for special choices of our parameters we can reproduce results already existing in the literature. Lastly, we lay the foundation for future work placing phenomenological constraints on the parameters of the effective theory. Although in this paper we focus on late time acceleration, our construction also generalizes the effective field theory of inflation to the scalar-tensor and multi-field case for perturbatively constructed backgrounds.
These lecture notes cover some of the theoretical topics associated with cosmic acceleration. Plausible explanations to cosmic acceleration include dark energy, modified gravity and a violation of the Copernican principle. Each of these possibilities are briefly described.
Recent discussions about supernova magnitude evolution have raised doubts about the robustness of the late-universe acceleration. In a previous letter, Huang did a null test of the cosmic acceleration by using a Parameterization based on the cosmic Age (PAge), which covers a broad class of cosmological models including the standard $Λ$ cold dark matter model and its many extensions. In this work, we continue to explore the cosmic expansion history with the PAge approximation. Using baryon acoustic oscillations ({\it without} a CMB prior on the acoustic scale), gravitational strong lens time de…
Recent observations of near supernova show that the acceleration expansion of Universe decreases. This phenomenon is called the transient acceleration. In the second part of work we consider the 3-component Universe composed of a scalar field, interacting with the dark matter on the agegraphic dark energy background. We show that the transient acceleration appears in frame of such a model. The obtained results agree with the latest cosmological observations, namely, the 557 SNIa sample (Union2) was released by the Supernova Cosmology Project (SCP) Collaboration.
The observed late-time acceleration of the cosmic expansion constitutes a fundamental problem in modern theoretical physics and cosmology. In an attempt to weight the validity of a large number of dark energy models, I use the recent measurements of the expansion rate of the Universe, the clustering of galaxies the CMB fluctuations as well as the large scale structure formation, to put tight constraints on the different models.
Theoretical approaches to explaining the observed acceleration of the universe are reviewed. We briefly discuss the evidence for cosmic acceleration, and the implications for standard General Relativity coupled to conventional sources of energy-momentum. We then address three broad methods of addressing an accelerating universe: the introduction of a cosmological constant, its problems and origins; the possibility of dark energy, and the associated challenges for fundamental physics; and the option that an infrared modification of general relativity may be responsible for the large-scale behav…
Flat galaxy rotation curves and the accelerating Universe both imply the existence of a critical acceleration, which is of the same order of magnitude in both the cases, in spite of the galactic and cosmic length scales being vastly different. Yet, it is customary to explain galactic acceleration by invoking gravitationally bound dark matter, and cosmic acceleration by invoking a `repulsive` dark energy. Instead, might it not be the case that the flatness of rotation curves and the acceleration of the Universe have a common cause? In this essay we propose a modified theory of gravity. By apply…
We argue that dark energy with multiple fields is theoretically well-motivated and predicts distinct observational signatures, in particular when cosmic acceleration takes place along a trajectory that is highly non-geodesic in field space. Such models provide novel physics compared to $Λ$CDM and quintessence by allowing cosmic acceleration on steep potentials. From the theoretical point of view, these theories can easily satisfy the conjectured swampland constraints and may in certain cases be technically natural, potential problems which are endemic to standard single-field dark energy. Obse…
We present a model where a non-conventional scalar field may act like dark energy leading to cosmic acceleration. The latter is driven by an appropriate field configuration, which result in an effective cosmological constant. The potential role of such a scalar in the cosmological constant problem is also discussed.
We review the notion of holographic dark energy and assess its significance in the light of the well documented cosmic acceleration at the present time. We next propose a model of holographic dark energy in which the infrared cutoff is set by the Hubble scale. The model accounts for the aforesaid acceleration and, by construction, is free of the cosmic coincidence problem.
Motivated by the recent interest in phantom fields as candidates for the dark energy component, we investigate the consequences of the phantom field when is minimally coupled to gravity. In particular, the necessary (but insufficient) conditions for the acceleration and superacceleration of the universe are obtained when the non-minimal coupling term is taken into account. Furthermore, the necessary condition for the cosmic acceleration is derived when the phantom field is non-minimally coupled to gravity and baryonic matter is included.
We propose new version of massive $F(R)$ gravity which is natural generalization of convenient massive ghost-free gravity. Its Hamiltonian formulation in scalar-tensor frame is developed. We show that such $F(R)$ theory is ghost-free. The cosmological evolution of such theory is investigated. Despite the strong Bianchi identity constraint the possibility of cosmic acceleration (especially, in the presence of cold dark matter) is established. Ghost-free massive $F(R,T)$ gravity is also proposed.
I review a class of nonlocally modified gravity models which were proposed to explain the current phase of cosmic acceleration without dark energy. Among the topics considered are deriving causal and conserved field equations, adjusting the model to make it support a given expansion history, why these models do not require an elaborate screening mechanism to evade solar system tests, degrees of freedom and kinetic stability, and the negative verdict of structure formation. Although these simple models are not consistent with data on the growth of cosmic structures many of their features are li…
The Regge-Teitelboim formulation of gravity, which utilizes dynamical embeddings in a background space, effectively introduces source terms in the standard Einstein equations that are not attributable to the energy-momentum tensor. We show that for a simple class of embeddings of the Robertson-Walker metric, these source terms naturally generate cosmic acceleration.
We investigate the possibility that the modified Yang-Mills theories can produce an accelerated cosmic expansion. We take into account some specific non-trivial solution of the modified Yang-Mills equation obtained by the author earlier, which allows us to build several modifications of accelerated cosmic expansion.
Directly comparing the 6 expansion rate measured by type Ia supernovae data and the lower bound on the expansion rate set by the strong energy conditions or the null hypothesis that there never exists cosmic acceleration, we see $3σ$ direct evidence of cosmic acceleration and the $Rh=ct$ model is strongly excluded by the type Ia supernovae data. We also use Gaussian process method to reconstruct the expansion rate and the deceleration parameter from the 31 cosmic chronometers data and the 6 data points on the expansion rate measured from type Ia supernoave data, the direct evidence of cosmic a…
Brane cosmology presents many interesting possibilities including: phantom acceleration (w<-1), self-acceleration, unification of dark energy with inflation, transient acceleration, loitering cosmology, new singularities at which the Hubble parameter remains finite, cosmic mimicry, etc. The existence of a time-like extra dimension can result in a singularity-free cyclic cosmology.
In this paper, we investigate a scenario in which late time cosmic acceleration might arise due to coupling between dark matter and baryonic matter without resorting to dark energy or large scale modification of gravity associated with extra degrees of freedom. The scenario can give rise to late time acceleration in Jordan frame and no acceleration in Einstein frame - \textit{generic modification of gravity} caused by disformal coupling. Using a simple parametrization of the coupling function, in maximally disformal case, we constrain the model parameters by using the age constraints due to gl…
Evolution of a background space-time metric and sub-horizon matter density perturbations in the Universe is numerically analyzed in viable $f(R)$ models of present dark energy and cosmic acceleration. It is found that viable models generically exhibit recent crossing of the phantom boundary $w_{\rm DE}=-1$. Furthermore, it is shown that, as a consequence of the anomalous growth of density perturbations during the end of the matter-dominated stage, their growth index evolves non-monotonically with time and may even become negative temporarily.
This is a short overview of spatially flat (or open) four-dimensional accelerating cosmologies for some simple exponential potentials obtained by string or M theory compactification on some non-trivial curved spaces, which may lead to some striking results, e.g., the observed cosmic acceleration and the scale of the dark energy from first principles.
We discuss the emergence of relativistic effects in the Machian universe with a global preferred frame and use thermodynamic considerations to clarify the origin of gravity as an entropic force and the origin of dark energy/cosmic acceleration as related to the Hawking-Unruh temperature at the universe's horizon.
The cosmic acceleration is one of the most significant cosmological discoveries over the last century. The two categories of explanation are exotic component (dark energy) and modified gravity. We constrain the two types of model by a joint analysis with perturbation growth and direct $H(z)$ data. Though the minimal $χ^2$ of the $Λ$CDM is almost the same as that of DGP, in the sense of consistency we find that the dark energy ($Λ$CDM) model is more favored through a detailed comparison with the corresponding parameters fitted by expansion data.
We introduce a new proposal for the onset of cosmic acceleration based on mass-varying neutrinos. When massive neutrinos become nonrelativistic, the $Z_2$ symmetry breaks, and the quintessence potential becomes positive from its initially zero value. This positive potential behaves like a cosmological constant at the present era and drives the Universe's acceleration during the slow roll evolution of the quintessence. In contrast to $Λ$CDM model, the dark energy in our model is dynamical, and the acceleration is not persistent. Contrary to some of the previous models of dark energy with mass-v…
We argue that an interacting scalar-fermion distribution can be used to demonstrate the cosmic acceleration in General Relativity. The interaction is of Yukawa nature and it drives the fermion density to decay with cosmic time. The consistency of the model is established through, (a) a generalization of the Om(z) parameter, the present matter density contrast of the universe, and (b) a comparison of theoretical results with observational data, using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo code. A simple model of unified cosmic expansion history is also discussed. There are more than one instances where the…
A modified model of gravity with additional positive and negative powers of the scalar curvature, $R$, in the gravitational action is studied. This is done using the Palatini variational principle. It is demonstrated that using such a model might prove useful to explain both the early time inflation and the late time cosmic acceleration without the need for any form of dark energy.
There is now overwhelming observational evidence that our Universe is accelerating in its expansion. I discuss how modified gravitational models can provide an explanation for this observed late-time cosmic acceleration. We consider specific low-curvature corrections to the Einstein-Hilbert action. Many of these models generically contain unstable de Sitter solutions and, depending on the parameters of the theory, late-time accelerating attractor solutions.
We put forward a multi-time theory, in frame of which the cosmic acceleration is a natural phenomenon without cosmological constant or anything like that. The main point of this theory is that each of the gravity interaction and electromagnetic interaction has its own time, respectively. Also we give a concrete model of this theory which can exactly simulate $Λ$CDM. Further we discuss the possible observations which may improve this theory in the future.
The modified gravity, which eliminates the need for dark energy and which seems to be stable, is considered. The terms with positive powers of the curvature support the inflationary epoch while the terms with negative powers of the curvature serve as effective dark energy, supporting current cosmic acceleration. The equivalent scalar-tensor gravity may be compatible with the simplest solar system experiments.
In the past few years, a possibility is investigated, where curvature itself behaves as a source of dark energy. So, it is natural to think whether curvature can produce dark matter too. It is found that, at classical level, higher-derivative gravity yields curvature inspired particles namely riccions [11]. Here, it is probed whether riccion can be a possible source of dark matter. Further, it is found that the late universe accelerates. Here, it is interesting to see that acceleration is obtained from curvature without using any dark energy source of exotic matter.
We show that the late time rolling of the Cubic Superstring Field Theory (CSSFT) non-local tachyon in the FRW Universe leads to a cosmic acceleration with a periodic crossing of the w=-1 barrier. An asymptotic solution for the tachyon and Hubble parameter by linearizing the non-local equations of motion is constructed explicitly. For a small Hubble parameter the period of oscillations is a number entirely defined by the parameters of the CSSFT action.
It is proposed that dark energy may become dominant over standard matter due to universe expansion (curvature decrease). Two models: non-linear gravity-matter system and modified gravity may provide the effective phantom or effective quintessence dark energy which complies with the conjecture. It is interesting that future of such universe is not necessary finite time singularity (Big Rip). The effective quintessence naturally describes current cosmic speed-up.
The effective equation of state of normal matter is changed in theories where the size of the compact space depends upon the local energy density. In particular we show how the dilution of a fluid due to the expansion of the universe can be compensated by an increase of the effective coupling of that fluid to gravity in the presence of a potential which acts to reduce the size of the compact space. We estimate how much cosmic acceleration can be obtained in such a model and comment on the difficulties faced in finding an appropriate potential.
An explicitly covariant formulation is presented of a modified DGP scenario proposed recently [1], to avoid the instability of the self-accelerating branch. It is based on the introduction of a bulk scalar field with appropriate non-minimal coupling to the bulk Einstein-Hilbert term. The method is general and may be applied to other models as well.
We discuss a model which gives rise to cosmic self-acceleration due to modified gravity. Improvements introduced by this approach are the following: In the coordinate system commonly used, the metric does not grow in the bulk, and no negative mass states are expected to appear. The spectrum of small perturbations contains a localized massless tensor mode, but does not admit dangerous localized massive gravitons. All the massive spin-2 modes are continuum states. The action of the model, which is an extension of DGP, allows to relax the previously known constraint on the bulk fundamental scale …
In the context of a cosmological string model describing the propagation of strings in a time-dependent Robertson-Walker background space-time, we show that the asymptotic acceleration of the Universe can be identified with the square of the string coupling. This allows for a direct measurement of the ten-dimensional string coupling using cosmological data. We conjecture that this is a generic feature of a class of non-critical string models that approach asymptotically a conformal (critical) sigma model whose target space is a four-dimensional space-time with a dilaton background that is line…
The status of accelerating four-dimensional universes obtained by time-dependent compactifications of 10 or 11 dimensional supergravity is reviewed, as is the `no-go' theorem that they evade. All flat cosmologies for a simple exponential potential are found explicitly. It is noted that transient acceleration is generic, and unavoidable for `flux' compactifications. Included is an eternally accelerating flat cosmology without a future event horizon.
In cosmic holography, the fundamental quantity is the degrees of freedom on a horizon surface rather than the material contents within the volume. That is, the horizon area and hence cosmological expansion rate H is related to the entropy. Using this as a guide, we examine the consequences of an effective dark {\it entropy} on the past and future dynamics of the universe. The results, including nonmonotonic expansion behavior, are interesting apart from the theoretical motivation.
