Related papers: Bounce in GR and higher-order derivative operators
Recent observations for three types of astrophysical systems severely challenge the GR plus dark matter scenario, showing a phenomenology which is what modified gravity theories predict. Stellar kinematics in the outskirts of globular…
We highlight the fact that the lack of scale invariance in the gravitational field equations of General Relativity results from the underlying assumption that the appropriate scale for the gravitational force should be linked to the atomic…
A new class of modified gravity theories with a healthy higher order derivative terms of a function of the matter Lagrangian $f(L_m)$ is considered. Generally the energy momentum tensor is not conserved, leading to the fifth force similar…
We discuss models that can account for today's dark energy. The underlying cosmological constant may be Planck scale but starts as a redundant coupling which can be eliminated by a field redefinition. The observed vacuum energy arises when…
We consider all degenerate scalar-tensor theories that depend quadratically on second order derivatives of a scalar field, which we have identified in a previous work. These theories, whose degeneracy in general ensures the absence of…
Self tuning is one of the few methods for dynamically cancelling a large cosmological constant and yet giving an accelerating universe. Its drawback is that it tends to screen all sources of energy density, including matter. We develop a…
We consider a problem whether bound states are made in a scalar theory with a fourth-order derivative term or not. After rewriting the theory to a standard scalar theory with second-order derivative terms, we calculate a correlation…
Despite their success, General Relativity (GR) and the Standard Model (SM) are currently understood as effective field theories only valid up to some energy (length) scale, where new physics is expected to appear. We review the framework of…
Certain scalar fields with higher derivative interactions and novel classical and quantum mechanical properties - the Galileons - can be naturally covariantized by coupling to nonlinear massive gravity in such a way that their symmetries…
We construct a cosmological scalar-tensor-theory model in which the Brans-Dicke type scalar $\Phi$ enters the effective (Jordan-frame) Hubble rate as a simple modification of the Hubble rate of the $\Lambda$CDM model. This allows us to…
It has been shown that in the context of General Relativity (GR) enriched with a new set of discrete symmetry reversal conjugate metrics, negative energy states can be rehabilitated while avoiding the well-known instability issues. We…
In scalar-tensor theories of gravity, the equation of state of dark energy, w, can become smaller than -1 without violating any energy condition. The value of w today is tied to the level of deviations from general relativity which, in…
In the present work, the scattering between a light scalar particle $\phi$ and a heavy scalar $\sigma$ in the eikonal limit is considered, for gravity scenarios containing higher order derivatives, such as the ones studied in…
The cosmological viability of varying $G\left( t\right) $ and $\Lambda \left( t\right) $ cosmology is discussed by determining the cosmological eras provided by the theory. Such a study is performed with the determination of the critical…
Cuscuton Gravity is characterized as a scalar field that can be added to general relativity without introducing any new dynamical degrees of freedom on a cosmological background. Yet, it modifies gravity such that spacetime singularities…
We consider the low-energy effective string action in four dimensions including the leading order-$\alpha'$ terms. An exact homogeneous solution is obtained. It represents a non-singular expanding cosmological model in which the tensor…
In this work, we discuss the conditions that allow the establishment of an equivalence between $f(R,T)=R+\lambda h(T)$ gravity models and General Relativity (GR) coupled to a modified matter sector. We do so by considering a $D$-dimensional…
Binary pulsar observations and gravitational wave detections seriously constrained scalar-tensor theories with massless scalar field allowing only small deviations from general relativity. If we consider a nonzero mass of the scalar field,…
Recently Gambini and Pullin proposed a new consistent discrete approach to quantum gravity and applied it to cosmological models. One remarkable result of this approach is that the cosmological singularity can be avoided in a general…
We show a new class of interaction terms with higher derivatives that can be added to every low derivative real scalar, such that the theory is degenerate, and the equation of motion remains of second order. In contrast to previous setups,…