Modified gravity theories are a popular alternative to dark energy as a possible explanation for the observed accelerating cosmic expansion, and their cosmological tests are currently an active research field. Studies in recent years have been increasingly focused on testing these theories in the nonlinear regime, which is computationally demanding. Here we show that, under certain circumstances, a whole class of theories can be ruled out by using background cosmology alone. This is possible because certain classes of models (i) are fundamentally incapable of producing specific background expansion histories, and (ii) said histories are incompatible with local gravity tests. As an example, we demonstrate that a popular class of models, $f(R)$ gravity, would not be viable if observations suggest even a slight deviation of the background expansion history from that of the $Λ$CDM paradigm.
In this paper, we study cosmologies containing the reduced modified Chaplygin gas (RMCG) fluid which is reduced from the modified Chaplygin gas $p=Aρ-Bρ^{-α}$ for the value of $α=-1/2$. In this special case, dark cosmological models can be realized for different values of model parameter $A$. We investigate the viabilities of these dark cosmological models by discussing the evolutions of cosmological quantities and using the currently available cosmic observations. It is shown that the special RMCG model ($A=0$ or $A=1$) which unifies the dark matter and dark energy should be abandoned. For $A…
We want to study the perturbation growth of an initial seed of an ellipsoidal shape in Top-Hat collapse model of structure formation in the Modified Chaplygin gas cosmology. Considering reasonable values of the constants and the parameters of the model under study, it is shown that a very small deviation from spherical symmetry (ellipsoidal geometry) in the initial seed leads to a final highly non-spherical structure which can be considered as a candidate for justifying already known cosmological structures as cosmic walls and filaments.
We review inflationary cosmology in modified gravity such as $R^2$ gravity with its extensions in order to generalize the Starobinsky inflation model. In particular, we explore inflation realized by three kinds of effects: modification of gravity, the quantum anomaly, and the $R^2$ term in loop quantum cosmology. It is explicitly demonstrated that in these inflationary models, the spectral index of scalar modes of the density perturbations and the tensor-to-scalar ratio can be consistent with the Planck results. Bounce cosmology in $F(R)$ gravity is also explained.
Despite many nice properties and numerous achievements, general relativity is not a complete theory. One of actual approaches towards more complete theory of gravity is its nonlocal modification. We present here a brief review of nonlocal gravity with its cosmological solutions. In particular, we pay special attention to two nonlocal models and their nonsingular bounce solutions for the cosmic scale factor.
We revisit the concept of turnaround radius in cosmology, in the context of modified gravity. While preliminary analyses were limited to scalar-tensor/$F(R)$ gravity, we extend the definition and the study of this quantity to a much broader class of theories including also quantum $R^2$ gravity. The turnaround radius is computed in terms of the parameters of the theory and it is shown that a deviation not larger than 10\% of this quantity from its value in Einstein's theory could constrain the model parameters and even rule out some current theories.
In this paper, we investigate the viscous modified Chaplygin gas cosmological model. Solutions for different values of the viscosity parameter are obtained using both analytical and numerical methods. We have calculated the deceleration and defined {\em newly} statefinder $\{r, s \}$ pair in D dimensions. It is shown that when $D=4$, the usual statefinder parameters are recovered. Furthermore, we apply the statefinder diagnostic to the MCG model with and without viscosity in $D$ dimensions and explore these parameters graphically.
In this work we present a brief discussion about modified and extended cosmological models using current observational tests. We show that according to these astrophysical samples based in late universe measurements, theories like $f(R)$ and $f(T,B)$ can provide useful interpretation to a dynamical dark energy. At this stage, precision cosmostatistics has also become a well-motivated endeavour by itself to test gravitational physics at cosmic scales and these analyses can be employed to test the viability and future constrains over specific cosmological models of these theories of gravity, mak…
Large scale flows have been a challenging feature of cosmography ever since galaxy scaling relations came on the scene 40 years ago. The next generation of surveys will offer a serious test of the standard cosmology.
We apply the first law of thermodynamics to the apparent horizon of the universe with the power-law corrected and non-extensive Tsallis entropies rather than the Bekenstein-Hawking one. We examine the cosmological properties in the two entropy models by using the CosmoMC package. In particular, the first numerical study for the cosmological observables with the power-law corrected entropy is performed. We also show that the neutrino mass sum has a non-zero central value with a relaxed upper bound in the Tsallis entropy model comparing with that in the $Λ$CDM one.
A concise description is presented of the basic features of the formalism of non-canonical spacetime volume-forms and its application in modified gravity theories and cosmology. The well known unimodular gravity theory appears as a very special case. Concerning the hot issues facing cosmology now, we specifically briefly outline the construction of: (a) unified description of dark energy and dark matter as manifestations of a single material entity -- a special scalar field "darkon"; (b) quintessential models of universe evolution with a gravity-"inflaton"-assisted dynamical Higgs mechanism --…
As is known, in modified cosmological theories of gravity many of the cosmologies which could not be generated by standard Einstein gravity, can be consistently described by $F(R)$ theories. Using known reconstruction techniques, we investigate which $F(R)$ theories can lead to a Hubble parameter describing two types of cosmological bounces, the superbounce model, related to supergravity and non-supersymmetric models of contracting ekpyrosis and also the Loop Quantum Cosmology modified ekpyrotic model. Since our method is an approximate method, we investigate the problem at large and small cur…
A covariant modified gravity (MOG) is formulated by adding to general relativity two new degrees of freedom, a scalar field gravitational coupling strength $G= 1/χ$ and a gravitational spin 1 vector field $ϕ_μ$. The $G$ is written as $G=G_N(1+α)$ where $G_N$ is Newton's constant, and the gravitational source charge for the vector field is $Q_g=\sqrt{αG_N}M$, where $M$ is the mass of a body. Cosmological solutions of the theory are derived in a homogeneous and isotropic cosmology. Black holes in MOG are stationary as the end product of gravitational collapse and are axisymmetric solutions with …
We study how a cosmological bounce with a Type IV singularity at the bouncing point, can be generated by a classical vacuum $F(G)$ gravity. We focus our investigation on the behavior of the vacuum $F(G)$ theory near the Type IV singular bouncing point and also we address the stability of the resulting solution, by treating the equations of motion as a dynamical system. In addition, we investigate how the scalar perturbations of the background metric evolve, emphasizing to cosmological times near the Type IV singular bouncing point. Finally, we also investigate which mimetic vacuum $F(G)$ gravi…
In this Letter we constrain for the first time both cosmology and modified gravity theories conjointly, by combining the GW and electromagnetic observations of GW170817. We provide joint posterior distributions for the Hubble constant $H_0$, and two physical effects typical of modified gravity: the gravitational wave (GW) friction, encoded by the parameter $α_M$, and several GW dispersion relations. Among the results of this analysis, we can improve by 15\% the bound of the graviton mass with respect to measurement using the same event, but fixing $H_0$. We obtain a value of $m^2_g=2.08_{-4.25…
A generalization of Bekenstein's Tensor-Vector-Scalar (TeVeS) model of modified gravity has recently been proposed as an alternative to dark matter. This model -- which we will refer to as g-TeVeS -- utilizes a Galileon-induced Vainshtein mechanism to suppress modifications to General Relativity in strong gravity regimes and so avoids the need to introduce the baroque kinetic terms that typically exist in relativistic models of Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND). We explore the behavior of this model in spacetimes with exact Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) symmetry. The ability of the theory …
Wheeler (1964) had formulated Mach's principle as the boundary condition for general relativistic field equations. Here, we use this idea and develop a modified dynamical model of cosmology based on imposing Neumann boundary condition on cosmological perturbation equations. Then, it is shown that a new term appears in the equation of motion, which leads to a modified Poisson equation. In addition, a modified Hubble parameter is derived due to the presence of the new term. Moreover, it is proved that, without a cosmological constant, such a model has a late time-accelerated expansion with an eq…
We present the latest measurements of the Hubble parameter and of the parameter $Ξ_0$ describing modified gravitational wave propagation, obtained from the third gravitational wave transient catalog, GWTC-3, using the correlation with galaxy catalogs and information from the source-frame mass distribution of binary black holes. The latter leads to the tightest bound on $Ξ_0$ so far, i.e. $Ξ_0 = 1.2^{+0.7}_{-0.7}$ with a flat prior on $Ξ_0$, and $Ξ_0 = 1.0^{+0.4}_{-0.8}$ with a prior uniform in $\logΞ_0$ (Max posterior and $68\%$ HDI). The measurement of $H_0$ is dominated by the single bright …
Rather than obtaining cosmic acceleration with a scalar field potential (quintessence) or noncanonical kinetic term (k-essence), we can do it purely through a modified gravity braiding of the scalar and metric, i.e. the $G_3$ Horndeski action term. Such "Horndessence" allows an exact $Λ$CDM cosmological expansion without any cosmological constant, and by requiring shift symmetry we can derive the exact form of $G_3$. We find that this route of deriving $G_3(X)$ leads to a functional form far from the usual simple assumptions such as a power law. Horndessence without any kinetic term or potenti…
We apply the gravity-thermodynamics conjecture, namely the first law of thermodynamics on the Universe horizon, but using the generalized Kaniadakis entropy instead of the standard Bekenstein-Hawking one. The former is a one-parameter generalization of the classical Boltzmann-Gibbs-Shannon entropy, arising from a coherent and self-consistent relativistic statistical theory. We obtain new modified cosmological scenarios, namely modified Friedmann equations, which contain new extra terms that constitute an effective dark energy sector depending on the single model Kaniadakis parameter $K$. We in…
We consider quintessence scalar field cosmology in which the Lagrangian of the scalar field is modified by the Generalized Uncertainty Principle. We show that the perturbation terms which arise from the deformed algebra are equivalent with the existence of a second scalar field, where the two fields interact in the kinetic part. Moreover, we consider a spatially flat Friedmann-Lema\^ıtre-Robertson-Walker spacetime (FLRW), and we derive the gravitational field equations. We show that the modified equation of state parameter $w_{GUP}$ can cross the phantom divide line; that is $w_{GUP}<-1$. Furt…
We construct modified cosmological scenarios through the application of the first law of thermodynamics in the universe horizon, but using the generalized, nonextensive Tsallis entropy instead of the usual Bekenstein-Hawking one. We result to modified cosmological equations that possess the usual ones as a particular limit, but which in the general case contain extra terms that appear for the first time, that constitute an effective dark energy sector quantified by the nonextensive parameter $δ$. When the matter sector is dust, we extract analytical expressions for the dark energy density and …
We present modified cosmological scenarios that arise from the application of the "gravity-thermodynamics" conjecture, using the Barrow entropy instead of the usual Bekenstein-Hawking one. The former is a modification of the black hole entropy due to quantum-gravitational effects that deform the black-hole horizon by giving it an intricate, fractal structure. We extract modified cosmological equations which contain new extra terms that constitute an effective dark-energy sector, and which coincide with the usual Friedmann equations in the case where the new Barrow exponent acquires its Bekenst…
We investigate the bounce realization in the framework of generalized modified gravities arising from Finsler and Finsler-like geometries. In particular, the richer intrinsic geometrical structure is reflected in the appearance of extra degrees of freedom in the Friedmann equations that can drive the bounce. We examine various Finsler and Finsler-like constructions. In the cases of general very special relativity as well as of Finsler-like gravity on the tangent bundle we show that a bounce cannot be easily obtained. However, in the Finsler-Randers space the induced scalar anisotropy can fulfi…
We provide an $F(R)$ gravity description of a $Λ$CDM bouncing model, without the need for matter fluids or for cosmological constant. As we explicitly demonstrate, the two cosmological eras that constitute the $Λ$CDM bouncing model, can be generated by $F(R)$ gravity which can lead to accelerating cosmologies. The resulting F(R) gravity has Einstein frame inflationary properties that have concordance to the latest Planck observational data. Both the $F(R)$ gravity stability properties are thoroughly investigated and also, the gravitational particle production, a feature necessary for the viabi…
We present a modified cosmological scenario that arises from the application of non-extensive thermodynamics with varying exponent. We extract the modified Friedmann equations, which contain new terms quantified by the non-extensive exponent, possessing standard $Λ$CDM cosmology as a subcase. Concerning the universe evolution at late times we obtain an effective dark energy sector, and we show that we can acquire the usual thermal history, with the successive sequence of matter and dark-energy epochs, with the effective dark-energy equation-of-state parameter being in the quintessence or in th…
In this work, we shall incorporate a stiff era in the Universe's evolution in the context of $F(R)$ gravity. After deriving the vacuum $F(R)$ gravity, which may realize a stiff evolution, we combine the stiff $F(R)$ gravity with an $R^2$ model, and we construct a qualitative model for the inflationary and stiff era, with the latter commencing after the end of the inflationary era. We assume that the baryogenesis occurs during the stiff era, and we calculate the baryon to entropy ratio, which effectively constraints the functional form of the stiff $F(R)$ gravity. Further constraints on the sti…
Observational constraints on the modified cosmology inspired by string T-duality
Universidad de Lleida（莱里达大学）；Durban University of Technology（德班理工大学）；National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS)（南非理论与计算科学国家研究所）；Universidad Catòlica del Norte（北天主教大学）；Shiraz University（设拉子大学）
We discuss the cosmological implications of an extended Brans-Dicke theory presented recently, in which there is an energy exchange between the scalar field and ordinary matter, determined by the theory. A new mass scale is generated in the theory which modifies the Friedmann equations with field-dependent corrected kinetic terms. In a radiation universe the general solutions are found and there are branches with complete removal of the initial singularity, while at the same time a transient accelerating period can occur within deceleration. Entropy production is also possible in the early uni…
The Einstein Telescope and other third generation interferometric detectors of gravitational waves are projected to be operational post $2030$. The cosmological signatures of gravitational waves would undoubtedly shed light on any departure from the current gravitational framework. We here confront a specific modified gravity model, the No Slip Gravity model, with forecast observations of gravitational waves. We compare the predicted constraints on the dark energy equation of state parameters $w_0^{}-w_a^{}$, between the modified gravity model and that of Einstein gravity. We show that the No …
