Vacuum Energy Fluctuations, The Induced Cosmological Constant and Cosmological Reconstruction in Non-Minimal Modified Gravity Models

Mounting observational data confirm that about 73% of the energy density consists of dark energy which is responsible for the current accelerated expansion of the Universe. We present observational evidences and dark energy projects. We then review various theoretical ideas that have been proposed to explain the origin of dark energy; they contain the cosmological constant, modified matter models, modified gravity models and the inhomogeneous model. The cosmological constant suffers from two major problems: one regarding fine-tuning and the other regarding coincidence. To solve them there arose modified matter models such as quintessence, k-essence, coupled dark energy and unified dark energy. We compare those models by presenting attractive aspects, new rising problems and possible solutions. Furthermore, we review modified gravity models that lead to late-time accelerated expansion without invoking a new form of dark energy; they contain f(R) gravity and the Dvali–Gabadadze–Porrati (DGP) model. We also discuss observational constraints on those models and on future modified gravity theories. Finally we review the inhomogeneous Lemaître–Tolman–Bondi (LTB) model that drops an assumption of the spatial homogeneity of the Universe. We also present basics of cosmology and scalar field theory, which are useful especially for students and novices to understand dark energy models.

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Dwarf galaxies without dark matter: constraints on modified gravity

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ◽

10.1093/mnras/staa3653 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 501 (1) ◽

pp. 254-260

Author(s):

Ali Rida Khalifeh ◽

Raul Jimenez

Keyword(s):

Dark Matter ◽

Modified Gravity ◽

Virial Theorem ◽

Dwarf Galaxies ◽

Strong Support ◽

Gravity Models ◽

Birkhoff Theorem ◽

Astronomical Surveys ◽

Stringent Test ◽

Modified Gravity Models

ABSTRACT The discovery of 19 dwarf galaxies without dark matter (DM) provides, counterintuitively, strong support for the ΛCDM standard model of cosmology. Their presence is well accommodated in a scenario where the DM is in the form of cold dark particles. However, it is interesting to explore quantitatively what is needed from modified gravity models to accommodate the presence of these galaxies and what extra degree of freedom is needed in these models. To this end, we derive the dynamics at galaxy scales (Virial theorem) for a general class of modified gravity models. We distinguish between theories that satisfy the Jebsen–Birkhoff theorem, and those that do not. Our aim is to develop tests that can distinguish whether DM is part of the theory of gravity or a particle. The 19 dwarf galaxies discovered provide us with a stringent test for models of modified gravity. Our main finding is that there will always be an extra contribution to the Virial theorem coming from the modification of gravity, even if a certain galaxy shows very small, if not negligible, trace of DM, as has been reported recently. Thus, if these and more galaxies are confirmed as devoid (or negligible) of DM, while other similar galaxies have abundant DM, it seems interesting to find modifications of gravity to describe DM. Our result can be used by future astronomical surveys to put constraints on the parameters of modified gravity models at astrophysical scales where DM is described as such.

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