T. Harko, F. S. N. Lobo, E. N. Saridakis
Abstract
We investigate the cosmological implications of a new class of modified gravity, where the field equations generically include higher-order derivatives of the matter fields, arising from the introduction of non-dynamical auxiliary fields in the action. Imposing a flat, homogeneous and isotropic geometry, we extract the Friedmann equations, obtaining an effective dark-energy sector containing higher-derivatives of the matter energy density and pressure. For the cases of dust, radiation and stiff matter, we analyze the cosmological behavior, finding accelerating, de Sitter and non-accelerating phases, dominated by matter or dark-energy. Additionally, the effective dark-energy equation-of-state parameter can be quintessence-like, cosmological-constant-like or even phantom-like. The detailed study of these scenarios may provide signatures, that could distinguish them from other candidates of modified gravity.
Keywords
Modified gravity, higher-order derivatives, dark-energy, Modified theories of gravity, Dark energy
International Journal of Geometric Methods in Modern Physics
Volume 13, Issue 7
2016 August
