A semiempirical calculation of the fine and Zeeman structure of 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>4<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> and 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>5<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> configurations of Ge I. Gyromagnetic ratios

The gyromagnetic ratios (g-factors) belong to the most important characteristics of atoms. For the 4p4f configuration of a germanium atom experimental values of g-factors are available only for four levels, while similar experimental data on the 4p5f configuration of Ge I are absent. Therefore, a theoretical study of the fine and Zeeman structures is topical for determining the gyromagnetic ratios. All the calculations are performed in the one-configuration approximation with the energy-operator matrix containing a maximum possible number of interactions, including magnetic: spin-orbit (own and other), spin-spin, and also orbitorbit interaction. The fine structure has been examined in three (LS, LK, and jK) approximations in order to establish the nature of coupling in the systems studied and the reliability of g-factors. Apart from the g-factors, in studying the Zeeman splitting, its specific features—the crossing and anticrossing fields of magnetic components— have been determined. A comparative analysis of g-factors was performed that showed that our results are in agreement with the available, albeit few in number, experimental data. At all stages, the corresponding energy-operator matrices were numerically diagonalized, i.e., all the results presented in the paper were obtained in the intermediate coupling scheme.     

Analysis of the spectrum of the Zn-like Kr VII ion: Highly excited 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>4<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> and 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>5<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis> configurations

The spectrum of the Zn-like Kr VII ion, excited in a capillary discharge and recorded with a high resolution in the wavelength range of 300–1000 Å, was studied. Previously performed identification of the transitions from the levels of the 4s4f, 4s5s, 4s5p, and 4s5d configurations is confirmed and extended, and the energies of these levels are specified. The (4p ²+4s4d)?4p4d and (4p ²+4s5s)?4p5s transitions are identified for the first time, and the energies of all the levels of the 4p4d and 4p5s configurations are determined. The results of the analysis performed are confirmed by semiempirical calculations in terms of the Hartree-Fock method. These results are also shown to conform to the experimental data obtained for lighter ions of the Zn I isoelectronic sequence.     

Dark-energy cosmological models in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis>) gravity

We discuss dark-energy cosmological models in f(G) gravity. For this purpose, a locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi type I cosmological model is considered. First, exact solutions with a well-known form of the f(G) model are explored. One general solution is discussed using a power-law f(G) gravity model and physical quantities are calculated. In particular, Kasner’s universe is recovered and the corresponding f(G) gravity models are reported. Second, the energy conditions for the model under consideration are discussed using graphical analysis. It is concluded that solutions with f(G) = G^5/6 support expansion of universe while those with f(G) = G^1/2 do not favor the current expansion.     

Energy conditions in modified <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis>) gravity

In this paper, we have considered flat Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker metric in the framework of perfect fluid models and modified f(G) gravity (where G is the Gauss Bonnet invariant). Particularly, we have considered particular realistic f(G) configurations that could be used to cure finite-time future singularities arising in the late-time cosmic accelerating epochs. We have then developed the viability bounds of these models induced by weak and null energy conditions, by using the recent estimated numerical figures of the deceleration, Hubble, snap and jerk parameters.     

Friedmann Cosmology with Matter Creation in Modified <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) Gravity

The theoretical and observational consequences of thermodynamics of open systems which allow matter creation, are investigated in modified f(R, T) (R is the Ricci scalar and T is the trace of energy-momentum tensor) theory of gravity within the framework of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker line element. The simplest model f(R, T)=R+2f(T) with “gamma-law” equation of state p = (γ?1)ρ is assumed to obtain the exact solution. A power-law expansion model is proposed by considering the natural phenomenological particle creation rate ψ = 3β n H, where β is a pure number of the order of unity, n the particle number density and H is the Hubble parameter. A Big Rip singularity is observed for γ<0 describing phantom cosmology. The accelerated expansion of the Universe is driven by the particle creation. The density parameter shows the negative curvature of the Universe due to particle creation. The entropy increases with the evolution of the Universe. Some kinematics tests such as lookback time, luminosity distance, proper distance, angular diameter versus redshift are discussed in detail to observe the role of particle creation in early and late time evolution of the Universe.     

Exploring plane-symmetric solutions in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) gravity

The modified theories of gravity, especially the f(R) gravity, have attracted much attention in the last decade. This paper is devoted to exploring plane-symmetric solutions in the context of metric f(R) gravity. We extend the work on static plane-symmetric vacuum solutions in f(R) gravity already available in the literature [1, 2]. The modified field equations are solved using the assumptions of both constant and nonconstant scalar curvature. Some well-known solutions are recovered with power-law and logarithmic forms of f(R) models.     

Violation of causality in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) gravity

In the standard formulation, the f(T) field equations are not invariant under local Lorentz transformations, and thus the theory does not inherit the causal structure of special relativity. Actually, even locally violation of causality can occur in this formulation of f(T) gravity. A locally Lorentz covariant f(T) gravity theory has been devised recently, and this local causality problem seems to have been overcome. The non-locality question, however, is left open. If gravitation is to be described by this covariant f(T) gravity theory there are a number of issues that ought to be examined in its context, including the question as to whether its field equations allow homogeneous Gödel-type solutions, which necessarily leads to violation of causality on non-local scale. Here, to look into the potentialities and difficulties of the covariant f(T) theories, we examine whether they admit Gödel-type solutions. We take a combination of a perfect fluid with electromagnetic plus a scalar field as source, and determine a general Gödel-type solution, which contains special solutions in which the essential parameter of Gödel-type geometries, \(m^2\), defines any class of homogeneous Gödel-type geometries. We show that solutions of the trigonometric and linear classes (\(m^2 < 0\) and \(m=0\)) are permitted only for the combined matter sources with an electromagnetic field matter component. We extended to the context of covariant f(T) gravity a theorem which ensures that any perfect-fluid homogeneous Gödel-type solution defines the same set of Gödel tetrads \(h_A^{~\mu }\) up to a Lorentz transformation. We also showed that the single massless scalar field generates Gödel-type solution with no closed time-like curves. Even though the covariant f(T) gravity restores Lorentz covariance of the field equations and the local validity of the causality principle, the bare existence of the Gödel-type solutions makes apparent that the covariant formulation of f(T) gravity does not preclude non-local violation of causality in the form of closed time-like curves.     

Dynamics of anisotropic power-law <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) cosmology

Modified theories of gravity have attracted much attention of the researchers in the recent years. In particular, the f(R) theory has been investigated extensively due to important f(R) gravity models in cosmological contexts. This paper is devoted to exploring an anisotropic universe in metric f(R) gravity. A locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi type I cosmological model is considered for this purpose. Exact solutions of modified field equations are obtained for a well-known f(R) gravity model. The energy conditions are also discussed for the model under consideration. The viability of the model is investigated via graphical analysis using the present-day values of cosmological parameters. The model satisfies null energy, weak energy, and dominant energy conditions for a particular range of the anisotropy parameter while the strong energy condition is violated, which shows that the anisotropic universe in f(R) gravity supports the crucial issue of accelerated expansion of the universe.     

Cosmic acceleration in non-flat <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) cosmology

We study f(T) cosmological models inserting a non-vanishing spatial curvature and discuss its consequences on cosmological dynamics. To figure this out, a polynomial f(T) model and a double torsion model are considered. We first analyze those models with cosmic data, employing the recent surveys of Union 2.1, baryonic acoustic oscillation and cosmic microwave background measurements. We then emphasize that the two popular f(T) models enable the crossing of the phantom divide line due to dark torsion. Afterwards, we compute numerical bounds up to 3-\(\sigma \) confidence level, emphasizing the fact that \(\Omega _{k0}\) turns out to be non-compatible with zero at least at 1\(\sigma \). Moreover, we underline that, even increasing the accuracy, one cannot remove the degeneracy between our models and the \(\Lambda \)CDM paradigm. So that, we show that our treatments contain the concordance paradigm and we analyze the equation of state behaviors at different redshift domains. We also take into account gamma ray bursts and we describe the evolution of both the f(T) models with high redshift data. We calibrate the gamma ray burst measurements through small redshift surveys of data and we thus compare the main differences between non-flat and flat f(T) cosmology at different redshift ranges. We finally match the corresponding outcomes with small redshift bounds provided by cosmography. To do so, we analyze the deceleration parameters and their variations, proportional to the jerk term. Even though the two models well fit late-time data, we notice that the polynomial f(T) approach provides an effective de-Sitter phase, whereas the second f(T) framework shows analogous results compared with the \(\Lambda \)CDM predictions.     

Horizon thermodynamics in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) theory

We investigate whether the new horizon first law proposed recently still work in f(R) theory. We identify the entropy and the energy of black hole as quantities proportional to the corresponding value of integration, supported by the fact that the new horizon first law holds true as a consequence of equations of motion in f(R) theories. The formulas for the entropy and energy of black hole found here are in agreement with the results obtained in literatures. For applications, some nontrivial black hole solutions in f(R) theories have been considered, the entropies and the energies of black holes in these models are firstly computed, which may be useful for future researches.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) gravity constraints from gravitational waves

The recent LIGO observation sparked interest in the field of gravitational wave signals. Besides the gravitational wave observation the LIGO collaboration used the inspiraling black hole pair to constrain the graviton mass. Unlike general relativity, f(R) theories have a characteristic non-zero mass graviton. We apply this constraint on the graviton mass to viable f(R) models in order to find the effects on model parameters. We find it possible to constrain the parameter space with these gravity wave based observations. We consider the popular Hu–Sawicki model as a case study and find an appropriate parameter bracket. The result generalizes to other f(R) theories and can be used to constrain the parameter space.     

Spherical Symmetric Perfect Fluid Collapse in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) Gravity

This paper contains the study of spherically symmetric perfect fluid collapse in the frame work of f(R, T) modified theory of gravity. We proceed our work by considering the non-static spherically symmetric background in the interior and static spherically symmetric background in the exterior regions of the star. The junction conditions between exterior and interior regions are presented by matching the exterior and interior regions. The field equations are solved by taking the assumptions that the Ricci scalar as well as the trace of energy-momentum tensor are to be constant, for a particular f(R, T) model. By inserting the solution of the field equations in junction conditions, we evaluate the gravitational mass of the collapsing system. Also, we discuss the apparent horizons and their time formation for different possible cases. It is concluded that the term f(R ₀, T ₀) behaves as a source of repulsive force and that’s why it slowdowns the collapse of the matter.     

Model-independent reconstruction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) teleparallel cosmology

We propose a model-independent formalism to numerically solve the modified Friedmann equations in the framework of f(T) teleparallel cosmology. Our strategy is to expand the Hubble parameter around the redshift \(z=0\) up to a given order and to adopt cosmographic bounds as initial settings to determine the corresponding \(f(z)\equiv f(T(H(z)))\) function. In this perspective, we distinguish two cases: the first expansion is up to the jerk parameter, the second expansion is up to the snap parameter. We show that inside the observed redshift domain \(z\le 1\), only the net strength of f(z) is modified passing from jerk to snap, whereas its functional behavior and shape turn out to be identical. As first step, we set the cosmographic parameters by means of the most recent observations. Afterwards, we calibrate our numerical solutions with the concordance \(\Lambda \)CDM model. In both cases, there is a good agreement with the cosmological standard model around \(z\le 1\), with severe discrepancies outer of this limit. We demonstrate that the effective dark energy term evolves following the test-function: \(f(z)={\mathcal {A}}+{\mathcal {B}}{z}^2e^{{\mathcal {C}}{z}}\). Bounds over the set \(\left\{ {\mathcal {A}}, {\mathcal {B}}, {\mathcal {C}}\right\} \) are also fixed by statistical considerations, comparing discrepancies between f(z) with data. The approach opens the possibility to get a wide class of test-functions able to frame the dynamics of f(T) without postulating any model a priori. We thus re-obtain the f(T) function through a back-scattering procedure once f(z) is known. We figure out the properties of our f(T) function at the level of background cosmology, to check the goodness of our numerical results. Finally, a comparison with previous cosmographic approaches is carried out giving results compatible with theoretical expectations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) gravity solutions for evolving wormholes

The scalar–tensor f(R) theory of gravity is considered in the framework of a simple inhomogeneous space-time model. In this research we use the reconstruction technique to look for possible evolving wormhole solutions within viable f(R) gravity formalism. These f(R) models are then constrained so that they are consistent with existing experimental data. Energy conditions related to the matter threading the wormhole are analyzed graphically and are in general found to obey the null energy conditions (NEC) in regions around the throat, while in the limit \(f(R)=R,\) NEC can be violated at large in regions around the throat.     

Cosmology from <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) Theory in a Variant Speed of Light Scenario

In this work I present a generalization of f(R, T) gravity, by allowing the speed of light to vary. Cosmological solutions are presented for matter and radiation-dominated universes, the former allowing the universe expansion to accelerate while the latter contemplating a possible alternative to inflationary scenario. Remarkably, standard gravity is always retrieved for a special case of f(R, T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) black holes

We study the f (R)-Maxwell black hole imposed by constant curvature and its all thermodynamic quantities, which may lead to the Reissner-Nordström-AdS black hole by redefining Newtonian constant and charge. Further, we obtain the f (R)-Yang-Mills black hole imposed by constant curvature, which is related to the Einstein-Yang-Mills black hole in AdS space. Since there is no analytic black hole solution in the presence of Yang-Mills field, we obtain asymptotic solutions. Then, we confirm the presence of these solutions in a numerical way.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>(1) eV sterile neutrino in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) gravity

We refer [1] to the role of an additional O(1) eV sterile neutrino in modified gravity models. We find parameter constraints in particular f(R) gravity model using following up-to-dated cosmological data: measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy, the CMB lensing potential, the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO), the cluster mass function and the Hubble constant. It was obtained for the sterile neutrino mass 0.47 eV < m _ν,sterile < 1 eV (2σ) assuming that the sterile neutrinos are thermalized and the active neutrinos are massless, not significantly larger than in the standard cosmology model within the same data set: 0.45 eV < m _ν,sterile < 0.92 eV (2σ). But, if the mass of sterile neutrino is fixed and equals ≈ 1.5 eV according to various anomalies in neutrino oscillation experiments, f(R) gravity is much more consistent with observation data than the CDM model.     

Graviton and scalar propagations on AdS<Subscript>4</Subscript> space in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) gravities

We investigate propagations of graviton and additional scalar on four-dimensional anti-de Sitter (AdS₄) space using f(R) gravity models with external sources. It is shown that there is the van Dam–Veltman–Zakharov (vDVZ) discontinuity in f(R) gravity models because f(R) gravity implies GR with additional scalar. This clearly indicates a difference between general relativity and f(R) gravity.     

Hypersurface-homogeneous Universe filled with perfect fluid in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) theory of gravity

The exact solutions of the field equations with respect to hypersurface-homogeneous Universe filled with perfect fluid in the framework of f(R, T) theory of gravity (Harko et al, Phys. Rev. D 84, 024020 (2011)) is derived. The physical behaviour of the cosmological model is studied.     

Features of the Zeeman splitting of levels of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">1snd</Emphasis> configuration (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) of helium

The Zeeman splitting of fine-structure levels of the 1snd configuration (n = 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) of neutral helium in the magnetic field is calculated. The values of fields for level crossing and anticrossing are determined. Comparison with experimental data available in the literature is carried out.