Related papers: Dark energy cosmology from higher-order, string-in…
It is generically believed that higher-order curvature corrections to the Einstein-Hilbert action might cure the curvature singularities that plague general relativity. Here we consider Einstein-scalar-Gauss-Bonnet gravity, the only…
We consider generalized energy conditions in modified theories of gravity by taking into account the further degrees of freedom related to scalar fields and curvature invariants. The latter are usually recast as generalized {\it geometrical…
The cosmological reconstruction scheme for modified $F(R)$ gravity is developed in terms of e-folding (or, redshift). It is demonstrated how any FRW cosmology may emerge from specific $F(R)$ theory. The specific examples of well-known…
We consider predictions for structure formation from modifications to general relativity in which the Einstein-Hilbert action is replaced by a general function of the Ricci scalar. We work without fixing a gauge, as well as in explicit…
In this contribution to the conference "Beyond Einstein: Historical Perspectives on Geometry, Gravitation and Cosmology in the Twentieth Century", we give a critical status report of attempts to explain the late accelerated expansion of the…
We investigate the cosmological implications of $f(Q)$ gravity, which is a modified theory of gravity based on non-metricity, in non-flat geometry. We perform a detailed dynamical-system analysis keeping the $f(Q)$ function completely…
We present a framework for discussing the cosmology of dark energy and dark matter based on two scalar degrees of freedom. An effective field theory of cosmological perturbations is employed. A unitary gauge choice renders the dark energy…
Scalar Gauss-Bonnet gravity is the only theory with quadratic curvature corrections to general relativity whose field equations are of second differential order. This theory allows for nonperturbative dynamical corrections and is therefore…
Aspects of string cosmology for critical and non-critical strings are discussed emphasizing the necessity to account for the dilaton dynamics for a proper incorporation of ``large - small" duality. This drastically modifies the intuition…
We consider cosmological scenarios based on $f(R,T)$ theories of gravity ($R$ is the Ricci scalar and $T$ is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor) and numerically reconstruct the function $f(R,T)$ which is able to reproduce the same…
We address the problem of the energy conditions in modified gravity taking into account the additional degrees of freedom related to scalar fields and curvature invariants. The latter are usually interpreted as generalized {\it geometrical…
Physics invites the idea that space contains energy whose gravitational effect approximates that of Einstein's cosmological constant, Lambda; nowadays the concept is termed dark energy or quintessence. Physics also suggests the dark energy…
Non-linear gravitational clustering in a universe dominated by dark energy, modelled by a `quintessence' scalar field, and cold dark matter with space-time varying mass is studied. Models of this type, where the variable mass is induced by…
We study cosmologies based on low-energy effective string theory with higher-order string corrections to a tree-level action and with a modulus scalar field (dilaton or compactification modulus). In the presence of such corrections it is…
High-precision observational data have confirmed with startling evidence that the Universe is currently undergoing a phase of accelerated expansion. This phase, one of the most important and challenging current problems in cosmology,…
Higher order theories of gravity have recently attracted a lot of interest as alternative candidates to explain the observed cosmic acceleration without the need of introducing any scalar field. A critical ingredient is the choice of the…
In the context of a string-inspired running vacuum model (RVM) of cosmology with anomalies and torsion-induced axion-like fields, we discuss quantum corrections to the corresponding energy density, in approximately de Sitter eras, during…
We study a class of almost scale-invariant modified gravity theories, using a particular form of $f(R, G) = \alpha R^2 + \beta G \log G$ where $R$ and $G$ are the Ricci and Gauss-Bonnet scalars, respectively and $\alpha$, $\beta$ are…
We show that general infrared modifications of the Einstein-Hilbert action obtained by addition of curvature invariants are not viable. These modifications contain either ghosts or light gravity scalars. A very specific fine-tuning might…
Recent work has shown that non-local modifications of gravity involving terms such as $m^2R\Box^{-2}R$ (and no cosmological constant) provide a phenomenologically viable alternative to $\Lambda$CDM. We first discuss the possibility that…