Related papers: Gradient instability for w < -1
We show that it is both observationally allowable and theoretically possible to have large fluctuations in the dark energy equation of state as long as they occur at ultra-low redshifts z<0.02. These fluctuations would masquerade as a local…
The effects which quantum fields and an $\alpha_0 R^2$ term in the gravitational Lagrangian have on future singularities are investigated. While all values of $\alpha_0$ are considered, an emphasis is placed on those values which are…
We provide a general framework for studying the dark energy cosmology in which a scalar field $\phi$ is nonminimally and kinetically coupled to Cold Dark Matter (CDM). The scalar-graviton sector is described by the action of Horndeski…
The apparent absence of new heavy states at the LHC below the TeV scale points that there is a gap in the electroweak energy spectrum. This scenario is conveniently described through the electroweak effective theory, an effective…
Cosmological observations suggest the existence of two different kinds of energy densities dominating at small ($ \lesssim 500$ Mpc) and large ($\gtrsim 1000 $ Mpc) scales. The dark matter component, which dominates at small scales,…
We constrain the viable models of Horndeski gravity, written in its equivalent Generalised Galileon version, by resorting to the Witten positive energy theorem. We find that the free function $G_3(\phi, X)$ in the Lagrangian is constrained…
Dark energy constraints have forced viable alternatives that differ substantially from a cosmological constant Lambda to have an equation of state w that evolves across the phantom divide set by Lambda. Naively, crossing this divide makes…
Scalar field models with non-standard kinetic terms have been proposed in the context of k-inflation, of Born-Infeld lagrangians, of phantom energy and, more in general, of low-energy string theory. In general, scalar fields are expected to…
The critical issue in cosmology today lies in determining if the cosmological constant is the underlying ingredient of dark energy. Our profound lack of understanding of the physics of dark energy places severe constrains on our ability to…
We consider perturbations of a static and spherically symmetric background endowed with a metric tensor and a scalar field in the framework of the effective field theory of modified gravity. We employ the previously developed 2+1+1…
We reexamine $k$-essence dark energy models with a scalar field $\phi$ and a factorized Lagrangian, $\mathcal L = V(\phi)F(X)$, with $X = \frac{1}{2} \nabla_\mu \phi \nabla^\mu \phi.$ A value of the equation of state parameter, $w$, near…
The weak equivalence principle (WEP) is the cornerstone of gravitational theories. At the local scale, WEP has been tested to high accuracy by various experiments. On the intergalactic distance scale, WEP could be tested by comparing the…
Gravitational waves (GWs) provide a new tool to probe the nature of dark energy (DE) and the fundamental properties of gravity. We review the different ways in which GWs can be used to test gravity and models for late-time cosmic…
We consider weak solutions to very singular parabolic equations involving a one-Laplace-type operator, which is singular and degenerate, and a $p$-Laplace-type operator with $\frac{2n}{n+2}<p<\infty$, where $n\ge 2$ denotes the space…
We construct simple Lagrangians of vector fields which involve second derivatives, but nevertheless lead to second order field equations. These vector fields are, therefore, analogs of generalized Galileons. Our construction is given first…
We investigate the static and spherically symmetric solutions of Einstein's equations for a scalar field with non-canonical kinetic term, assumed to provide both the dark matter and dark energy components of the Universe. In particular, we…
We find that if we live at the center of an inhomogeneity with total density contrast of roughly 0.1, dark energy is not a cosmological constant at 95% confidence level. Observational constraints on the equation of state of dark energy, w,…
In quintessence models, the dark energy content of the universe is described by a slowly rolling scalar field whose pressure and energy density obey an equation of state of the form p=w $\rho$; w is in general a function of time such that…
In a recent publication \cite{us}, a cosmological scenario featuring a scalar field, $\varphi$, that is a source for Dark Matter and Dark Energy has been proposed. In this paper, a concrete realization of that scenario is presented. As in…
Scalar dark energy fields that couple to the Standard Model can give rise to observable signatures at the LHC. In this work we show that $t\bar t+$missing energy and mono-jet searches are suitable probes in the limit where the dark energy…