Cosmological Constraints on Non-flat Exponential $f(R)$ Gravity

We explore the viable $f(R)$ gravity models in FLRW backgrounds with a free spatial curvature parameter $\Omega_{K}$. In our numerical calculation, we concentrate on the exponential $f(R)$ model of $f(R) = R - \lambda R_{ch}(1-\exp{(-R/R_{ch}}))$, where $R_{ch}$ is the characteristic curvature scale, which is independent of $\Omega_K$, and $\lambda$ corresponds to the model parameter, while $R_{ch}\lambda=2\Lambda$ with $\Lambda$ the cosmological constant. In particular, we study the evolutions of the dark energy density and equation of state for exponential $f(R)$ gravity in open, flat and closed universe, and compare with those for $\Lambda$CDM. From the current observational data, we find that $\lambda^{-1}=0.42927^{+0.39921}_{-0.32927}$ at 68$\%$ C.L and $\Omega_K=-0.00050^{+0.00420}_{-0.00414}$ at 95$\%$ C.L. in the exponential $f(R)$ model. By using Akaike information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and Deviance Information Criterion (DIC), we conclude that there is no strong preference between the exponential $f(R)$ gravity and $\Lambda$CDM models in the non-flat universe.