The Brans-Dicke-like field of scalar-tensor gravity can be described as an imperfect fluid in an approach in which the field equations are regarded as effective Einstein equations. After completing this approach we recover, as a special case, the known effective fluid for a scalar coupled nonminimally to the Ricci curvature and we describe the imperfect fluid equivalent of f(R) gravity. A symmetry of electrovacuum Brans-Dicke gravity is translated into a symmetry of the corresponding effective fluid. The discussion is valid for any spacetime geometry.
Most no-hair theorems involve the assumption that the scalar field is independent of time. Recently in [Phys. Rev. D90 (2014) 041501(R)] the existence of time-dependent scalar hair outside a stationary black hole in general relativity was ruled out. We generalize this work to modified gravities and non-minimally coupled scalar field with an additional assumption that the spacetime is axisymmetric. It is shown that in higher-order gravity such as metric $f(R)$ gravity the time-dependent scalar hair doesn't exist. While in Palatini $f(R)$ gravity and non-minimally coupled case the time-dependent…
Dark energy cosmology is considered in a modified Gauss-Bonnet model of gravity with and without a scalar field. It is shown that these generalizations of General Relativity endow it with a very rich cosmological structure: it may naturally lead to an effective cosmological constant, quintessence or phantom cosmic acceleration, with the possibility to describe the transition from a decelerating to an accelerating phase explicitly. It is demonstrated here that these modified GB and scalar-GB theories are perfectly viable as cosmological models. They can describe the LambdaCDM cosmological era w…
We define a "holographic limit" of Lancsoz-Lovelock theories at the Lagrangian level which gives three-dimensional modified gravity theories. We also show that this limit applies to more general classes of theories in higher dimensions provided that they admit the holographic c-theorem.
The cosmological reconstruction of modified $F(R)$ and $F(\mathcal{G})$ gravities with agegraphic dark energy (ADE) model in a spatially flat universe without matter field is investigated by using e-folding "$N$" as a forward way. After calculating a consistent $F(R)$ in ADE's framework, we obtain conditions for effective equation of state parameter $w_{\mathrm{eff}}$, and see that reconstruction is possible for both phantom and non-phantom era. These calculations also are done for $F(\mathcal{G})$ gravity and the condition for a consistent reconstruction is obtained.
We review the several models of the dark energy, which may generate the accelerated expansion of the present universe. We also discuss the the Big Rip singularity, which may occur when the equation of the state parameter w is less than -1. We show that the quantum correction would be very important near the singularity.
It is shown that modified gravity theories with a Lagrangian composed of the three quadratic invariants of the Riemann curvature tensor are not appropriate. The field equations are either incompatible and/or irregular [like f(R)-gravities], or, if compatible, lead to the linear instability of polarizations relating to the Weyl tensor. A more relevant modification is the frame field theory, namely the best and unique variant of Absolute Parallelism; it has no free parameters (D=5 is a must) and no singularities arising in solutions. I sketch few remarkable features of this theory.
A general approach to viable modified $f(R)$ gravity is developed in both the Jordan and the Einstein frames. A class of exponential, realistic modified gravities is introduced and investigated with care. Special focus is made on step-class models, most promising from the phenomenological viewpoint and which provide a natural way to classify all viable modified gravities. One- and two-steps models are explicitly considered, but the analysis is extensible to $N$-step models. Both inflation in the early universe and the onset of recent accelerated expansion arise in these models in a natural, un…
Intrigued by the holographic principle, Padmanabhan recently proposed a novel idea, saying that our cosmic space is emergent as cosmic time progresses. In particular, the expansion rate of the Universe is related to the difference between the surface degrees of freedom on the holographic horizon and the bulk degrees of freedom inside. In this note, we generalize this interesting paradigm to brane world, scalar-tensor gravity, and f(R) theory, respectively, and find that in the cosmological setting the Friedmann equations can be successfully derived.
An explicit proof of the vanishing of the covariant divergence of the energy-momentum tensor in modified theories of gravity is presented. The gravitational action is written in arbitrary dimensions and allowed to depend nonlinearly on the curvature scalar and its couplings with a scalar field. Also the case of a function of the curvature scalar multiplying a matter Lagrangian is considered. The proof is given both in the metric and in the first-order formalism, i.e. under the Palatini variational principle. It is found that the covariant conservation of energy-momentum is built-in to the fiel…
The cosmological reconstruction scheme for modified $F(R)$ gravity is developed in terms of e-folding (or, redshift). It is demonstrated how any FRW cosmology may emerge from specific $F(R)$ theory. The specific examples of well-known cosmological evolution are reconstructed, including $Λ$CDM cosmology, deceleration with transition to phantom superacceleration era which may develop singularity or be transient. The application of this scheme to viable $F(R)$ gravities unifying inflation with dark energy era is proposed. The additional reconstruction of such models leads to non-leading gravitati…
In the present paper, the 3+1 decomposition of the spacetime onto hypersurface(s) is analysed and established for theories within the Palatini formalism by considering a general function of the Ricci scalar in the gravitational action. The corresponding Gauss-Codazzi relations are obtained and the boundary term that has to be subtracted in the gravitational action is easily deduced. Then, these relations are applied to the so-called ADM decomposition to describe the foliation of the spacetime onto hypersurfaces of constant time within these theories. Finally, the junction conditions are also o…
We briefly describe the modified Friedmann equations for Einstein-Aether gravity theory and we find the effective density and pressure. The purpose of our present work is to reconstruction of Einstein-Aether Gravity from other modified gravities like $f(T)$, $f(R)$, $f(G)$, $f(R,T)$ and $f(R,G)$ and check its viability. The scale factor is chosen in power law form. The free function $F(K)$ for Einstein-Aether gravity (where $K$ is proportional to $H^{2}$) have been found in terms for $K$ by the correspondence between Einstein-Aether gravity and other modified gravities and the nature of $F(K)$…
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…
In this work, we have considered dilaton dark energy model in Weyl-scaled induced gravitational theory in presence of barotropic fluid. It is to be noted that the dilaton field behaves as a quintessence. Here we have discussed the role of dilaton dark energy in modified gravity theories namely, f(R); f(T) and Horava-Lifshitz gravities and analyzed the behaviour of the dilaton field and the corresponding potential in respect to these modified gravity theories instead of Einstein's gravity. In f(R) and f(T) gravities, we have considered some particular forms of f(R) and f(T) and we have shown th…
There are many logically and computationally distinct characterizations of the surface gravity of a horizon, just as there are many logically rather distinct notions of horizon. Fortunately, in standard general relativity, for stationary horizons, most of these characterizations are degenerate. However, in modified gravity, or in analogue spacetimes, horizons may be non-Killing or even non-null, and hence these degeneracies can be lifted. We present a brief overview of the key issues, specifically focusing on horizons in analogue spacetimes and universal horizons in modified gravity.
We review recent progress on cosmological issues and theoretical properties of modified gravity theories. In particular, we explicitly explore the conformal transformation, the Starobinsky inflation, and a unified scenario of inflation and late time acceleration in $F(R)$ gravity and $F(T)$ gravity (extended teleparallel gravity). Furthermore, we examine neutron stars and the hyperon problem in $F(R)$ gravity. Moreover, for loop quantum cosmology (LQC), the natures of finite-time future singularities in $F(T)$ gravity are presented. In addition, we investigate $F(T)$ gravity theories from the …
We consider the problem of parametrizing modified gravity theories that include an additional vector field in the sub-Hubble regime within the quasi-static approximation. We start from the most general set of second order equations for metric and vector field perturbations and allow for both temporal and spatial components of the background vector field. We find that in the case in which dark matter obeys standard conservation equations, eight parameters are needed to fully characterize the theory. If dark matter vorticity can be neglected, the number of independent parameters is reduced to fo…
The long-standing problem of the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the Universe is, in this paper, analysed in the context of the modified theories of gravity. In particular we study two models of $f(R)$ theories of gravitation that, with the opportune choice of the free parameters, introduce a little perturbation to the scale factor of the Universe in the radiation dominated (RD) phase predicted by general relativity (GR), i.e., $a(t)\sim t^{1/2}$. This little perturbation generates a Ricci scalar different by zero, i.e., $R\neq 0$ that reproduces the correct magnitude for the asymme…
We use Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) data in order to impose constraints on higher-order modified gravity, and in particular on: (i) $f(G)$ Gauss-Bonnet gravity, and $f(P)$ cubic gravities, arising respectively through the use of the quadratic-curvature Gauss-Bonnet $G$ term, and the cubic-curvature combination, (ii) string-inspired quadratic Gauss-Bonnet gravity coupled to the dilaton field, (iii) models with string-inspired quartic curvature corrections, and (iv) running vacuum models. We perform a detailed investigation of the BBN epoch and we calculate the deviations of the freeze-out tem…
We investigate the realization of two bouncing paradigms, namely of the superbounce and the loop quantum cosmological ekpyrosis, in the framework of various modified gravities. In particular, we focus on the $F(R)$, $F(G)$ and $F(T)$ gravities, and we reconstruct their specific subclasses which lead to such universe evolutions. These subclasses constitute from power laws, polynomials, or hypergeometric ansatzes, which can be approximated by power laws. The qualitative similarity of different effective gravities which realize the above two bouncing cosmologies, indicates to some universality ly…
We investigate the slow-motion and weak-field approximation of the general ghost-free parity-violating (PV) theory of gravity in the parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) framework and derive the perturbative field equations, which are modified by the PV terms of this theory. The complete PPN parameters are obtained by solving the perturbative field equations. We find that all the PPN parameters are exactly the same as those in general relativity, except for an extra parameter $κ$, which is caused by the new curl-type term in the gravitomagnetic sector of the metric in this theory. We calculate th…
It is offered that $F(R)-$modified gravities can be considered as nonperturbative quantum effects arising from Einstein gravity. It is assumed that nonperturbative quantum effects gives rise to the fact that the connection becomes incompatible with the metric, the metric factors and the square of the connection in Einstein - Hilbert Lagrangian have nonperturbative additions. In the simplest approximation both additions can be considered as functions of one scalar field. The scalar field can be excluded from the Lagrangian obtaining $F(R)-$gravity. The essence of quantum correction to the affin…
In this work we shall exhaustively study the effects of modified gravity on the energy spectrum of the primordial gravitational waves background. S. Weinberg has also produced significant works related to the primordial gravitational waves with the most important one being the effects of neutrinos on primordial gravitational waves. With this sort review, our main aim is to gather all the necessary information for studying the effects of modified gravity on primordial gravitational waves in a concrete and quantitative way and in a single paper. After reviewing all the necessary techniques for e…
We give a pedagogical introduction into the field of (modified) teleparallel theories of gravity. Our presentation is fairly self-contained. In particular, we carefully explain the basic principles of metric-affine approaches to gravity. This contribution is based on our talk "Teleparallel gravity, its modifications, and the local Lorentz invariance" at the 9th Mathematical Physics Meeting: School and Conference on Modern Mathematical Physics in Belgrade, September 2017.
This note includes five sections. In section 2 a number of aesthetically motivated f(R) Lagrangians is proposed and frivolously explored in the metric formalism with variable Newton constant G(x). In section 3 the idea of deforming the terms in a given f(R) gravity-matter action S, and prior to extremizing it, is promoted with the aim of reducing S via an algebraic mixing between few selected gravity and matter terms without invoking new fields. The result of this is a number of constraint equations among the fields and often eccentric looking field equations derived from the reduced action. S…
Testing gravity by binary pulsars nowadays becomes a key issue. Screened modified gravity is a kind of scalar-tensor theory with screening mechanism in order to satisfy the tight Solar System tests. In this paper, we investigate how the screening mechanism affects the orbital dynamics of binary pulsars, and calculate in detail the five post-Keplerian (PK) parameters in this theory. These parameters differ from those of general relativity (GR), and the differences are quantified by the scalar charges, which lead to the dipole radiation in this theory. We combine the observables of PK parameters…
The aim of this paper is to find higher order geometrical corrections to the Einstein-Hilbert action that can lead to only second order equations of motion. The metric formalism is used, and static spherically symmetric and Friedmann-Lemaître space-times are considered, in four dimensions. The FKWC-basis are introduced in order to consider all the possible invariant scalars, and both polynomial and non-polynomial gravities are investigated.
Inspired by some recent works of Lovelock Brans-Dicke gravity and mimetic gravity, cosmology solutions in extensions of these two modified gravities are investigated. A non-local term is added to the Lovelock Brans-Dicke action and Gauss-Bonnet terms to the mimetic action,correspondingly. De Sitter and power scale factor solutions are then obtained in both theories. They can provide natural new approaches to a more accurate description of the unverse evolution.
Based on Wheeler-DeWitt equation derived from general relativity, it had been found that only dark energy can lead to a normalizable cosmological wave function. It is shown in the present work that, for dRGT gravity, Eddington-inspired-Born-Infeld gravity and Ho$\check{\text{r}}$ava-Lifshitz gravity, the previous conclusion can also stand well in quantum cosmology induced from these modified gravities. This observation implies that there might be a universal relation between dark energy and normalizability of the cosmological wave function.
We consider a novel class of $f(\R)$ gravity theories where the connection is related to the conformally scaled metric $\hat g_{μν}=C(\R)g_{μν}$ with a scaling that depends on the scalar curvature $\R$ only. We call them C-theories and show that the Einstein and Palatini gravities can be obtained as special limits. In addition, C-theories include completely new physically distinct gravity theories even when $f(\R)=\R$. With nonlinear $f(\R)$, C-theories interpolate and extrapolate the Einstein and Palatini cases and may avoid some of their conceptual and observational problems. We further show…
We study slowly rotating black hole solutions in the six independent theories of Einstein Quartic Gravity (EQG) in four dimensions. Unlike in the static case for which all six theories yield the same solution, for rotating black holes we obtain distinct results for five out of the six theories. Working to leading order in the rotation parameter, we find that the equations characterizing these black holes can be reduced to second order for each theory, similar to what has already been done for Einstein Cubic Gravity. We construct approximate and numerical solutions to these equations, and study…
By using the equivalence between metric and Palatini f(R) (or "modified") gravities with omega=0, -3/2 Brans-Dicke theories, it is shown that the Ehlers-Geren-Sachs theorem of general relativity is extended to modified gravity. In the case of metric f(R) gravity previously studied, this agrees with previous literature.
As an extension of our previous work [J.Qiao, T.Zhu, W.Zhao & A.Wang, arXiv:1909.03815], in this article, we calculate the effects of parity violation on gravitational-wave (GW) waveforms during their propagation in the most general parity-violating gravities, including Chern-Simons modified gravity, ghost-free scalar-tensor gravity, symmetric teleparallel equivalence of GR theory, Hořava-Lifshitz gravity and so on. For this purpose, we consider the GWs generated by the coalescence of compact binaries and concentrate on the imprints of the parity violation in the propagation of GWs. With a uni…
The existence of current-time universe's acceleration is usually modeled by means of two main strategies. The first makes use of a dark energy barotropic fluid entering \emph{by hand} the energy-momentum tensor of Einstein's theory. The second lies on extending the Hilbert-Einstein action giving rise to the class of extended theories of gravity. In this work, we propose a third approach, derived as an intrinsic geometrical effect of space-time, which provides repulsive regions under certain circumstances. We demonstrate that the effects of repulsive gravity naturally emerge in the field of a h…
We develop the reconstruction program for the number of modified gravities: scalar-tensor theory, $f(R)$, $F(G)$ and string-inspired, scalar-Gauss-Bonnet gravity. The known (classical) universe expansion history is used for the explicit and successful reconstruction of some versions (of special form or with specific potentials) from all above modified gravities. It is demonstrated that cosmological sequence of matter dominance, decceleration-acceleration transition and acceleration era may always emerge as cosmological solutions of such theory. Moreover, the late-time dark energy FRW universe …
In this article, we considered the bulk viscous fluid in the formalism of modified gravity in which the general form of a gravitational action is $f(R, T)$ function, where $R$ is the curvature scalar and $T$ is the trace of the energy momentum tensor within the frame of flat FRW space time. The cosmological model dominated by bulk viscous matter with total bulk viscous coefficient expressed as a linear combination of the velocity and acceleration of the expansion of the universe in such a way that $ξ=ξ_0+ξ_1\frac{\dot{a}}{a}+ξ_2\frac{\ddot{a}}{\dot{a}}$, where $ξ_0$, $ξ_1$ and $ξ_2$ are consta…
We analyze how to parametrize general modifications of the dark matter perturbations equations in a model-independent way. We prove that a general model with an imperfect and non-conserved dark matter fluid with bulk and shear viscosities and heat flux in a modified gravity scenario can be described with five general functions of time and scale. We focus on the sub-Hubble regime within the quasi-static approximation and calculate the observable power spectra of the galaxy distribution, galaxy velocities and weak lensing and find that these observables are only sensitive to three combinations o…
We consider a model belonging to the class of gravities with dynamical torsion. The model is free of ghosts and gradient instabilities about Minkowski and torsionless Einstein backgrounds. We find that at zero cosmological constant, the model admits a self-accelerating solution with non-Riemannian connection. Small value of the effective cosmological constant is obtained at the expense of the hierarchy between the dimensionless couplings.
We show that, within some modified gravity theories, such as the Palatini models, the non-linear nature of the field equations implies that the usual naive averaging procedure (replacing the microscopic energy-momentum by its cosmological average) could be invalid. As a consequence, the relative motion of particles in Palatini theories is actually indistinguishable from that predicted by General Relativity. Moreover, there is no WEP violation. Our new and most important result is that the cosmology and astrophysics, or put more generally, the behaviours on macroscopic scales, predicted by thes…
Modified f(R) gravity is one of the most promising candidates for dark energy, and even for the unification of the whole cosmological evolution, including the inflationary phase. Within this class of theories, the so-called viable modified gravities represent realistic theories that are capable of reproducing late-time acceleration, and satisfy strong constraints at local scales, where General Relativity is recovered. The present manuscript deals with the analysis of the cosmological evolution for some of these models, which indicates that the evolution may enter into a phantom phase, but the …
We implement a universal method for renormalizing AdS gravity actions applicable to arbitrary higher curvature theories in up to five dimensions. The renormalization procedure considers the extrinsic counterterm for Einstein-AdS gravity given by the Kounterterms scheme, but with a theory-dependent coupling constant that is fixed by the requirement of renormalization for the vacuum solution. This method is shown to work for a generic higher curvature gravity with arbitrary couplings except for a zero measure subset, which includes well-known examples where the asymptotic behavior is modified an…
We investigate the gravitational waves and their properties in various modified teleparallel theories, such as $f(T), f(T,B)$ and $f(T,T_G)$ gravities. We perform the perturbation analysis both around a Minkowski background, as well as in the case where a cosmological constant is present, and for clarity we use both the metric and tetrad language. For $f(T)$ gravity we verify the result that no further polarization modes comparing to general relativity are present at first-order perturbation level, and we show that in order to see extra modes one should look at third-order perturbations. For n…
When solving the equations of General Relativity in a symmetric sector, it is natural to consider the same symmetry for the geometry and stress-energy. This implies that for static and isotropic spacetimes, the most general natural stress-energy tensor is a sum of a perfect fluid and a radial imperfect fluid component. In the special situations where the perfect fluid component vanishes or is a spacetime constant, the solutions to Einstein's equations can be thought of as modified Schwarzschild and Schwarzschild-de Sitter spaces. Exact solutions of this type are derived and it is shown that wh…
We discuss the cosmological reconstruction in modified Gauss-Bonnet and F(R) gravities. Two alternative representations of the action (with and without auxiliary scalar) are considered. The approximate description of deceleration-acceleration transition cosmologies is reconstructed. It is shown that cosmological solution containing Big Bang and Big Rip singularities may be reconstructed only using the representation with the auxiliary field. The analytical description of the deceleration-acceleration transition cosmology in modified Gauss-Bonnet gravity is demonstrated to be impossible at suff…
Classical generalization of general relativity is considered as gravitational alternative for unified description of the early-time inflation with late-time cosmic acceleration. The structure and cosmological properties of number of modified theories, including traditional $F(R)$ and Hořava-Lifshitz $F(R)$ gravity, scalar-tensor theory, string-inspired and Gauss-Bonnet theory, non-local gravity, non-minimally coupled models, and power-counting renormalizable covariant gravity are discussed. Different representations and relations between such theories are investigated. It is shown that some ve…
We systematically assess several limiting cases of modified gravity, where particular theoretical or observational conditions hold. This framework includes the well known scalar-tensor gravity and No Slip Gravity and No Run Gravity, and we extend it to three new limits: Only Run, Only Light, and Only Growth Gravities. These limits give simplifications that allow deeper understanding of modified gravity, including demonstration that gravitational effects on light and matter can have opposite signs in their deviation from general relativity. We also show observational predictions for the differe…
It has been recently proposed that gravity might be an entropic force. Although a well defined fundamental description for such a mechanism is still lacking, it is still possible to address the viability of phenomenological models of entropic-inspired modified gravities. I will summarize some recent work directed to using cosmology as a tool to constraint scenarios in which the modifications are aimed to explain the physics behind dark energy and inflation. A phenomenological modification is able to explain cosmic acceleration at the background level and fit observations, but simple inflation …
We discuss initial conditions for the recently proposed Imperfect Dark Matter (Modified Dust). We show that they are adiabatic under fairly moderate assumptions about the cosmological evolution of the Universe at the relevant times.
The present thesis is focused on the study of FLRW cosmology in modified gravities and with scalar fields. The mystery of dark energy has made that the last decade, many efforts in theoretical physics have been focused on the explanation of the current acceleration of the Universe expansion. On the other hand, an early accelerated epoch, known as inflation, is also required in the standard cosmological model in order to fit the observational data. Here, we study the possibility to explain both effects under the same mechanism, by means of scalar fields or modified gravity. In this sense, F(R) …
