Related papers: Testing for w<-1 in the Solar System
We discuss the possibility of exploring an unbroken U(1) gauge interaction in the dark sector by means of gravitational waves. Dark sector states charged under the dark force can give a macroscopic charge to astronomical bodies. Yet the…
The most general scalar-tensor theories of gravity predict a weakening of the gravitational force inside astrophysical bodies. There is a minimum mass for hydrogen burning in stars that is set by the interplay of plasma physics and the…
The debate on gravity theories to extend or modify General Relativity is very active today because of the issues related to ultra-violet and infra-red behavior of Einstein's theory. In the first case, we have to address the Quantum Gravity…
Tensor-scalar theories of gravitation are commonly employed as extensions of General Relativity that allow to describe a much wider phenomenology. They are also naturally generated as low energy limit of higher-dimensional or unified…
We place, by the maximum likelihood method, constraints on a variable dark energy model with the equation of state $w=w_0/[1+b\ln (1+z)]^2$ using some recent observational data, including the new Sne Ia data from the SNLS, the size of…
In the present work we study a concrete model of Scalar--Tensor theory of gravity characterized by two free parameters, and compare its predictions against observational data and constraints coming from supernovae, solar system tests as…
This talk is based on my work in collaboration with Thibault Damour. We compare the probing power of different classes of gravity experiments: solar-system tests (weak-field regime), binary-pulsar tests (strong-field regime), and future…
In this paper, we show how a power-law correction to the Einstein-Hilbert action provides a viable modified theory of gravity, passing the Solar-System tests, when the exponent is between the values 2 and 3. Then, we implement this paradigm…
We study the accelerating present universe in terms of the time evolution of the equation of state $w(z)$ (redshift $z$) due to thawing and freezing scalar potentials in the quintessence model. The values of $dw/da$ and $d^2w/da^2$ at scale…
We argue that Solar system tests do not rule out 1/R gravity at least due to the reason addressed in Phys. Rev. D 74 (2006) 121501 [astro-ph/0610483] (ref. [1]) and subsequent published papers. Ref. [1] has not only modified the…
We consider $f(R)$ gravity theories which unify $R^n$ inflation and dark energy models. First, from the final Planck data of the cosmic microwave background, we obtain a condition, $1.977 < n < 2.003$. Next, under this constraint, we…
Recent data advances offer the exciting prospect of a first look at whether dark energy has a dynamical equation of state or not. While formally theories exist with a constant equation of state, they are nongeneric -- Einstein's…
Scalar polarization modes of gravitational waves, which are often introduced in the context of the viable extension of gravity, have been actively searched. However, couplings of the scalar modes to the matter are strongly constrained by…
Boson stars in zero-, one-, and two-node equilibrium states are modeled numerically within the framework of Scalar-Tensor Gravity. The complex scalar field is taken to be both massive and self-interacting. Configurations are formed in the…
We consider the gravitational Wilsonian effective action at low energy when all the particles of the standard model have decoupled. When the ${\cal R}^2$ terms dominate, the theory is equivalent to a scalar-tensor theory with the universal…
We continue our study of the stability of designer gravity theories, where one considers anti-de Sitter gravity coupled to certain tachyonic scalars with boundary conditions defined by a smooth function W. It has recently been argued there…
Modified gravity has garnered interest as a backstop against dark matter and dark energy (DE). As one possible modification, the graviton can become massive, which introduces a new scalar field - here with a Galileon-type symmetry. The…
We present models that simultaneously predict presence of dark energy and cold dark matter along with slow-roll inflation. The dark energy density is found to be of order $({\rm a \;few \;meV})^4$, and the mass of dark matter constituent is…
Scalar-tensor theories are the best motivated alternatives to general relativity and provide a mathematically consistent framework to test the various observable predictions. They can involve three functions of the scalar field: (i) a…
We review the several models of the dark energy, which may generate the accelerated expansion of the present universe. We also discuss the the Big Rip singularity, which may occur when the equation of the state parameter w is less than -1.…