The cosmological constant and dark energy in braneworlds

We review recent attempts to address the cosmological constant problem and the late-time acceleration of the Universe based on braneworld models. In braneworld models, the way in which the vacuum energy gravitates in the 4D spacetime is radically different from conventional 4D physics. It is possible that the vacuum energy on a brane does not curve the 4D spacetime and only affects the geometry of the extra-dimensions, offering a solution to the cosmological constant problem. We review the idea of supersymmetric large extra dimensions that could achieve this and also provide a natural candidate for a quintessence field. We also review the attempts to explain the late-time accelerated expansion of the universe from the large-distance modification of gravity based on the braneworld. We use the Dvali–Gabadadze–Porrati model to demonstrate how one can distinguish this model from dark energy models in 4D general relativity. Theoretical difficulties in this approach are also addressed.     

Brief History of a Relativistic Century

More than one century is passed by the publication of special relativity and few less by the birth of general relativity. Despite the great experimental successes of these theories, the study of the universe, is plagued by numerous unsolved problems. For example one of the most problems in cosmology is the cosmological constant, which governs the expansion of the universe, also known as dark energy. A substantial portion, about 60%, of the mass-energy in the universe is in a form of mysterious energy that is pushing the cosmos apart at an accelerating rate. What is this energy, and where does it come from? Cosmologists have no real idea. Although given a similar name, there is another problem in cosmology, the so-called dark matter, which is actually unrelated to dark energy, except insofar as they involve things we don’t understand. About 90% of the mass in the universe is in an apparently invisible form of matter that we call dark matter. This dark matter can only be measured by the gravitational pull it has on objects around it, and all galaxies we observe contain large halos of it, often extending for hundreds of thousands of light years beyond the edge of luminous matter. Is this dark matter actual matter, such as weakly interacting massive particles, or perhaps it is just an observational artifact caused by an improper theory of gravity? Another mystery is why there is so much more matter than antimatter in the universe. According to physical theories, these forms of matter are essentially equivalent, but conventional matter is observed in much greater abundances than antimatter. In this paper we summarily introduce the principal alternative theories proposed during one century of relativity.     

Entropic accelerating universe

To accommodate the observed accelerated expansion of the universe, one popular idea is to invoke a driving term in the Friedmann–Lemaître equation of dark energy which must then comprise 70% of the present cosmological energy density. We propose an alternative interpretation which takes into account the entropy and temperature intrinsic to the horizon of the universe due to the information holographically stored there. Dark energy is thereby obviated and the acceleration is due to an entropic force naturally arising from the information storage on the horizon surface screen. We consider an additional quantitative approach inspired by surface terms in general relativity and show that this leads to the entropic accelerating universe.     

Birkhoff’s theorem in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) gravity

Generalized from the so-called teleparallel gravity, which is exactly equivalent to general relativity, f(T) gravity has been proposed as an alternative gravity model to account for the dark energy phenomena. In this letter we prove that the external vacuum gravitational field for a spherically symmetric distribution of source matter in the f(T) gravity framework must be static. The conclusion is independent of the radial distribution and spherically symmetric motion of the source matter, that is, whether it is in motion or static. As a consequence, the Birkhoff’s theorem is valid in the general nonsingular f(T) theory at the un-perturbative level. We also discuss its application in the de Sitter spacetime evolution phase as preferred by present dark energy observations.     

Cosmological tests of gravity

Modifications of general relativity provide an alternative explanation to dark energy for the observed acceleration of the universe. We review recent developments in modified gravity theories, focusing on higher-dimensional approaches and chameleon/f(R) theories. We classify these models in terms of the screening mechanisms that enable such theories to approach general relativity on small scales (and thus satisfy solar system constraints). We describe general features of the modified Friedman equation in such theories.The second half of this review describes experimental tests of gravity in light of the new theoretical approaches. We summarize the high precision tests of gravity on laboratory and solar system scales. We describe in some detail tests on astrophysical scales ranging from ∼ kpc (galaxy scales) to ∼ Gpc (large-scale structure). These tests rely on the growth and inter-relationship of perturbations in the metric potentials, density and velocity fields which can be measured using gravitational lensing, galaxy cluster abundances, galaxy clustering and the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect. A robust way to interpret observations is by constraining effective parameters, such as the ratio of the two metric potentials. Currently tests of gravity on astrophysical scales are in the early stages — we summarize these tests and discuss the interesting prospects for new tests in the coming decade.     

Vacuum solution of a linear red-shift based correction in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) gravity

In this paper we have considered a red-shift based linear correction in derivative of action in the context of vacuum f (R) gravity. Here we have found out that the linear correction may describe the late time acceleration which is appeared by SuperNovae Ia with no need of dark energy. Also we have calculated the asymptotic action for the desired correction. The value of all solutions may reduce to de’ Sitter universe in the absence of correction term.     

Correspondence between holographic and Gauss–Bonnet dark energy models

In the present work we investigate the cosmological implications of holographic dark energy density in the Gauss–Bonnet framework. By formulating independently the two cosmological scenarios, and by enforcing their simultaneous validity, we show that there is a correspondence between the holographic dark energy scenario in flat universe and the phantom dark energy model in the framework of Gauss–Bonnet theory with a potential. This correspondence leads consistently to an accelerating universe. However, in general one has not full freedom of constructing independently the two cosmological scenarios. Specific constraints must be imposed on the coupling with gravity and on the potential.     

Weak lensing,dark matter and dark energy

Weak gravitational lensing is rapidly becoming one of the principal probes of dark matter and dark energy in the universe. In this brief review we outline how weak lensing helps determine the structure of dark matter halos, measure the expansion rate of the universe, and distinguish between modified gravity and dark energy explanations for the acceleration of the universe. We also discuss requirements on the control of systematic errors so that the systematics do not appreciably degrade the power of weak lensing as a cosmological probe.     

Quintom cosmology: Theoretical implications and observations

We review the paradigm of quintom cosmology. This scenario is motivated by the observational indications that the equation-of-state of dark energy across the cosmological constant boundary is mildly favored, although the data are still far from being conclusive. As a theoretical setup we introduce a no-go theorem existing in quintom cosmology, and based on it we discuss the conditions for the equation-of-state of dark energy realizing the quintom scenario. The simplest quintom model can be achieved by introducing two scalar fields with one being quintessence and the other phantom. Based on the double-field quintom model we perform a detailed analysis of dark energy perturbations and we discuss their effects on current observations. This type of scenario usually suffers from a manifest problem due to the existence of a ghost degree-of-freedom, and thus we review various alternative realizations of the quintom paradigm. The developments in particle physics and string theory provide potential clues indicating that a quintom scenario may be obtained from scalar systems with higher derivative terms, as well as from non-scalar systems. Additionally, we construct a quintom realization in the framework of braneworld cosmology, where the cosmic acceleration and the phantom divide crossing result from the combined effects of the field evolution on the brane and the competition between four- and five-dimensional gravity. Finally, we study the outsets and fates of a universe in quintom cosmology. In a scenario with null energy condition violation one may obtain a bouncing solution at early times and therefore avoid the Big Bang singularity. Furthermore, if this occurs periodically, we obtain a realization of an oscillating universe. Lastly, we comment on several open issues in quintom cosmology and their connection to future investigations.     

Self-accelerated Universe Induced by Repulsive Effects as an Alternative to Dark Energy and Modified Gravities

The existence of current–time universe’s acceleration is usually modeled by means of two main strategies. The first makes use of a dark energy barotropic fluid entering by hand the energy–momentum tensor of Einstein’s theory. The second lies on extending the Hilbert–Einstein action giving rise to the class of extended theories of gravity. In this work, we propose a third approach, derived as an intrinsic geometrical effect of space–time, which provides repulsive regions under certain circumstances. We demonstrate that the effects of repulsive gravity naturally emerge in the field of a homogeneous and isotropic universe. To this end, we use an invariant definition of repulsive gravity based upon the behavior of the curvature eigenvalues. Moreover, we show that repulsive gravity counterbalances the standard gravitational attraction influencing both late and early times of the universe evolution. This phenomenon leads to the present speed up and to the fast expansion due to the inflationary epoch. In so doing, we are able to unify both dark energy and inflation in a single scheme, showing that the universe changes its dynamics when \({\ddot{H}\over H}=-2 \dot{H}\), at the repulsion onset time where this condition is satisfied. Further, we argue that the spatial scalar curvature can be taken as vanishing because it does not affect at all the emergence of repulsive gravity. We check the goodness of our approach through two cosmological fits involving the most recent union 2.1 supernova compilation.     

Weak Gravity Conjecture and Holographic Dark Energy Model with Interaction and Spatial Curvature

In the paper, we apply the weak gravity conjecture to the holographic quintessence model of dark energy. Three different holographic dark energy models are considered: without the interaction in the non-flat universe; with interaction in the flat universe; with interaction in the non-flat universe. We find that
only in the models with the spatial curvature and interaction term proportional to the energy density of matter, it is possible for the weak gravity conjecture to be satisfied. And it seems that the weak gravity conjecture favors an open universe and the decaying of matter into dark energy.     

R2 Correction and Its Implication of Present Cosmic Accelerating Behavior

In this work we show an R + αR2 model of the universe in which certain quadratic correction is considered. Our results indicate that the R2 term can act as the present impetus of cosmic acceleration, but there may be a future collapsing universe with this component damped. This model can also tolerate a negative cosmological constant A,although there seems to be no need for a non-vanishing one. In our simplification, this curvature component has a stationary equation of state, which is similar to radiation. Unlike other dark energy models, this "missing" energy has a negative density. Some details and effects on cold dark matter and A-relevant model have been discussed in the frame of curvature-squared gravity theories.     

Machian Origin of the Entropic Gravity and Cosmic Acceleration

We discuss the emergence of relativistic effects in the Machian universe with a global preferred frame and use thermodynamic considerations to clarify the origin of gravity as an entropic force and the origin of dark energy/cosmic acceleration as related to the Hawking-Unruh temperature at the universe’s horizon.     

Perfect fluid dark matter

Taking the flat rotation curve as input and treating the matter content in the galactic halo region as perfect fluid we obtain a space–time metric at the galactic halo region in the framework of general relativity. We find that the resultant space–time metric is a non-relativistic dark matter induced space–time embedded in a static Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker universe i.e. the flat rotation curve not only leads to the existence of dark matter but also suggests about the background geometry of the universe. Within its range of validity the flat rotation curve and the demand that the dark matter to be non-exotic together indicate for a (nearly) flat universe as favored by the modern cosmological observations. We obtain the expressions for energy density and pressure of dark matter there and consequently the equation of state of dark matter. Various other aspects of the solutions are also analyzed.     

Effects of Low Anisotropy on Generalized Ghost Dark Energy in Galileon Gravity

The definition of the Galileon gravity form is extended to the Brans-Dicke theory. Given, the framework of the Galileon theory, the generalized ghost dark energy model in an anisotropic universe is investigated. We study the cosmological implications of this model. In particular, we obtain the equation of state and the deceleration parameters and a differential equation governing the evolution of this dark energy in Bianchi type I model. We also probe observational constraints by using the latest observational data on the generalized ghost dark energy models as the unification of dark matter and dark energy. In order to do so, we focus on observational determinations of the Hubble expansion rate(namely, the expansion history) H(z). As a result, we show the influence of the anisotropy(although low) on the evolution of the universe in the statefinder diagrams for Galileon gravity.     

暗能量的理论模型

将现有文献中存在的暗能量模型(严格的说是指解释现在宇宙的加速膨胀模型)分为三类. 第一类是将宇宙加速归因为在宇宙尺度上广义相对论的修改; 第二类是由于宇宙微扰的反作用或宇宙非均匀性的作用; 第三类为宇宙中存在的一类奇异能量成分, 它出现在爱因斯坦方程的右边. 对每一类模型, 举了几个例子, 并给以一些评述.     

Scalar–tensor representation of f(R) gravity and Birkhoff's theorem

Birkhoff's theorem is discussed in the frame of f(R) gravity by using its scalar–tensor representation. Modified gravity has become very popular in recent times as it is able to reproduce the unification of inflation and late‐time acceleration with no need of a dark energy component or an inflation field. Here, another aspect of modified f(R) gravity is studied, specifically the range of validity of Birkhoff's theorem, compared with another alternative to general relativity, the well‐known Brans–Dicke theory. As a novelty, here both theories are studied using a conformal transformation and writing the actions in the Einstein frame, where spherically symmetric solutions are studied using perturbation techniques. The differences between both theories are analyzed as well as the validity of the theorem within the Jordan and Einstein frames, where interesting results are obtained.     

Brane-Cosmology Dynamics with Induced Gravity

The Friedmann equations for a brane with induced gravity are analyzed and compared with the standard general relativity and Randall-Sundrum cases. Randall-Sundrum gravity modifies the early universe dynamics, whereas induced gravity changes the late universe evolution. The early and late time limits are investigated. Induced gravity effects can contribute to late-universe acceleration. The conditions for this are found. Qualitative analysis is given for a range of scalar field potentials.     

New Agegraphic Dark Energy in Brans-Dicke Theory

In this paper, we investigate the new agegraphic dark energy model in the framework of Brans-Dicke theory, which is a natural extension of the Einstein's general relativity. In this framework the form of the new agegraphic dark energy density takes as ρ_q =3n² φ(t) η^-2, where η is the conformalage of the universe and φ(t) is the Brans-Dicke scalar field representing the inverse of the time-variable Newton's constant. We derive the equation of state of the new agegraphic dark energy and the deceleration parameter of the universe in the Brans-Dicke theory. It is very interesting to find that in the Brans-Dicke theory the agegraphic dark energy realizes quintom-like behavior,i.e., its equation of state crosses the phantom divide w=-1 duringthe evolution. We also compare the situation of the agegraphic darkenergy model in the Brans-Dicke theory with that in the Einstein'stheory. In addition, we discuss the new agegraphic dark energy modelwith interaction in the framework of the Brans-Dicke theory.     

Scalar Gravity and Higgs Mechanism

The role that the auxiliary scalar field φ plays in Brans–Dicke cosmology is discussed. If a constant vacuum energy is assumed to be the origin of dark energy, then the corresponding density parameter would be a quantity varying with φ; and almost all of the fundamental components of our universe can be unified into the dynamical equation for φ. As a generalization of Brans–Dicke theory, we propose a new gravity theory with a complex scalar field ϕ which is coupled to the cosmological curvature scalar. Through such a coupling, the Higgs mechanism is naturally incorporated into the evolution of the universe, and a running density of the field vacuum energy is obtained which may release the particle standard model from the rigorous cosmological constant problem in some sense. Our model predicts a running mass scale of the fundamental particles in which the gauge symmetry breaks spontaneously. The running speed of the mass scale in our case could survive all existing experiments.