publications_mc – CosmoStat

Cosmological evolution in DHOST theories

Posted on October 29, 2018November 6, 2018 by Valeria Pettorino

Abstract

In the context of Degenerate Higher-Order Scalar-Tensor (DHOST) theories, we study cosmological solutions and their stability properties. In particular, we explicitly illustrate the crucial role of degeneracy by showing how the higher order homogeneous equations in the physical frame (where matter is minimally coupled) can be recast in a system of equations that do not involve higher order derivatives. We study the fixed points of the dynamics, finding the conditions for having a de Sitter attractor at late times. Then we consider the coupling to matter field (described for convenience by a k-essence Lagrangian) and find the conditions to avoid gradient and ghost instabilities at linear order in cosmological perturbations, extending previous work. Finally, we apply these results to a simple subclass of DHOST theories, showing that de Sitter attractor conditions, no ghost and no gradient instabilities conditions (both in the self-accelerating era and in the matter dominated era) can be compatible.

Self-accelerating universe in scalar-tensor theories after GW170817

Posted on December 18, 2017November 6, 2018 by Valeria Pettorino

Abstract

The recent simultaneous detection of gravitational waves and a gamma ray burst from a neutron star merger significantly shrank the space of viable scalar-tensor theories by demanding that the speed of gravity is equal to that of light. The survived theories belong to the class of degenerate higher order scalar-tensor theories. We study whether these theories are suitable as dark energy candidates. We find scaling solutions in the matter dominated universe that lead to de Sitter solutions at late times without the cosmological constant, realising self-acceleration. We evaluate quasi-static perturbations around self-accelerating solutions and show that the stringent constraints coming from astrophysical objects and gravitational waves can be satisfied, leaving interesting possibilities to test these theories by cosmological observations.

Vainshtein mechanism after GW170817

Posted on November 17, 2017November 6, 2018 by Valeria Pettorino

Abstract

The almost simultaneous detection of gravitational waves and a short gamma-ray burst from a neutron star merger has put a tight constraint on the difference between the speed of gravity and light. In the four-dimensional scalar-tensor theory with second order equations of motion, the Horndeski theory, this translates into a significant reduction of the viable parameter space of the theory. Recently, extensions of Horndeski theory, which are free from Ostrogradsky ghosts despite the presence of higher order derivatives in the equations of motion, have been identified and classified exploiting the degeneracy criterium. In these new theories, the fifth force mediated by the scalar field must be suppressed in order to evade the stringent Solar System constraints. We study the Vainshtein mechanism in the most general degenerate higher order scalar-tensor theory in which light and gravity propagate at the same speed. We find that the Vainshtein mechanism generally works outside a matter source but it is broken inside matter, similarly to beyond Horndeski theories. This leaves interesting possibilities to test these theories that are compatible with gravitational wave observations using astrophysical objects.

Authors:	M. Crisostomi , K. Koyama, D. Langlois, K. Noui and D. A. Steer
Journal:
Year:	2018
Download:	arXiv

Authors:	Marco Crisostomi and Kazuya Koyama
Journal:	PRD
Year:	2018
Download:	arXiv

Authors:	Marco Crisostomi and Kazuya Koyama
Journal:	PRD
Year:	2018
Download:	arXiv