New observational constraints on $f(T)$ cosmology from radio quasars

Using a new recently compiled milliarcsecond compact radio data set of 120 intermediate-luminosity quasars in the redshift range $0.46< z <2.76$, whose statistical linear sizes show negligible dependence on redshifts and intrinsic luminosity and thus represent standard rulers in cosmology, we constrain three viable and most popular $f(T)$ gravity models, where $T$ is the torsion scalar in teleparallel gravity. Our analysis reveals that constraining power of the quasars data (N=120) is comparable to the Union2.1 SN Ia data (N=580) for all three $f(T)$ models. Together with other standard ruler probes such as Cosmic Microwave Background and Baryon Acoustic Oscillation distance measurements, the present value of the matter density parameter $\Omega_m$ obtained by quasars is much lager than that derived from other observations. For two of the models considered ($f_1$CDM and $f_2$CDM) a small but noticeable deviation from $\Lambda$CDM cosmology is present, while in the framework of $f_3$CDM the effective equation of state may cross the phantom divide line at lower redshifts. These results indicate that intermediate-luminosity quasars could provide an effective observational probe comparable to SN Ia at much higher redsifts, and $f(T)$ gravity is a reasonable candidate for the modified gravity theory.