Related papers: Testing for w<-1 in the Solar System
Dark energy candidates for which the equation-of-state parameter w is less than -1 violate the dominant energy condition, and are typically unstable. In scalar-tensor theories of gravity, however, the expansion of the universe can mimic the…
Models of dark energy are conveniently characterized by the equation-of-state parameter w=p/\rho, where \rho is the energy density and p is the pressure. Imposing the Dominant Energy Condition, which guarantees stability of the theory,…
Recent data and new data analysis methods show that most probably the parameter $w$ in the equation of state of the dark energy is smaller than -1 at low redshifts. We briefly review some of the models with such a property and without…
Precision cosmological data hint that a dark energy with equation of state $w = P/\rho < -1$ and hence dubious stability is viable. Here we discuss for any $w$ nucleation from $\Lambda > 0$ to $\Lambda = 0$ in a first-order phase…
Current constraints on the dark energy equation of state parameter, $w$, are expected to be improved by more than one order of magnitude in the next decade. If $|w-1| \gsim 0.01$ around the present time, but the dark energy dynamics is…
We discuss whether the future extrapolation of the present cosmological state may lead to a singularity even in case of "conventional" (negative) pressure of the dark energy field, namely $w=p/\rho \geq -1$. The discussion is based on an…
It is now established that, contrary to common belief, (electro-)vacuum Brans-Dicke gravity does not reduce to general relativity for large values of the Brans-Dicke coupling $\omega$. Since the essence of experimental tests of…
Important observables to reveal the nature of dark energy are the equation of state $w$ and its time derivative in units of the Hubble time $w'$. Recently, it is shown that the simplest scalar field models of dark energy (quintessence)…
The recent discovery of "dark energy" has challenged Einstein's general theory of relativity as a complete model for our macroscopic universe. From a theoretical view, the challenge is even stronger: general relativity clearly does not…
Since last two decades $f(R)$ gravity theory has been extensively used as a serious alternative of general relativity to mimic the effects of dark energy. The theory presents a Yukawa correction to Newtonian gravitational potential, acting…
f(R) gravity is one of the simplest generalizations of general relativity, which may explain the accelerated cosmic expansion without introducing a cosmological constant. Transformed into the Einstein frame, a new scalar degree of freedom…
We explore the properties of dark energy models for which the equation-of-state, w, defined as the ratio of pressure to energy density, crosses the cosmological-constant boundary w = -1. We adopt an empirical approach, treating the dark…
We study the motion of particles in the background of a scalar-tensor theory of gravity in which the scalar field is kinetically coupled to Einstein tensor. We constrain the value of the derivative parameter $z$ through solar system tests.…
The cosmological "equation of state parameter", w, is equal to -1 for a true cosmological constant, and is greater than -1 for quintessence. There is a widespread reluctance to consider the remaining possibility, w < -1, though in fact…
We consider the viability of dark energy (DE) models in the framework of the scalar-tensor theory of gravity, including the possibility to have a phantom DE at small redshifts $z$ as admitted by supernova luminosity-distance data. For small…
The best motivated alternatives to general relativity are scalar-tensor theories, in which the gravitational interaction is mediated by one or several scalar fields together with the usual graviton. The analysis of their various…
We study the constraints on the dark energy model with constant equation of state parameter $w=p/\rho$ and the holographic dark energy model by using the weak gravity conjecture. The combination of weak gravity conjecture and the…
We investigate scalar-tensor theories, motivated by dark energy models, in the strong gravity regime around the black hole at the centre of our galaxy. In such theories general relativity is modified since the scalar field couples to…
Although the Gauss-Bonnet term is a topological invariant for general relativity, it couples naturally to a quintessence scalar field, modifying gravity at solar system scales. We determine the solar system constraints due to this term by…
The formalism in order to obtain the Dark Energy equation of state is extended to non-flat universes and we consider the inequalities that must be satisfied by Phantom Dark Energy in this case. We show that due to a non-vanishing spatial…