Dynamics of the anisotropic Kantowsky-Sachs geometries in RnR^n gravity

We construct general anisotropic cosmological scenarios governed by an $f(R)$ gravitational sector. Focusing then on Kantowski-Sachs geometries in the case of $R^n$-gravity, and modelling the matter content as a perfect fluid, we perform a detailed phase-space analysis. We find that at late times the universe can result to a state of accelerating expansion, and additionally, for a particular $n$-range ($2<n<3$) it exhibits phantom behavior. Furthermore, isotropization has been achieved independently of the initial anisotropy degree, showing in a natural way why the observable universe is so homogeneous and isotropic, without relying on a cosmic no-hair theorem. Moreover, contracting solutions have also a large probability to be the late-time states of the universe. Finally, we can also obtain the realization of the cosmological bounce and turnaround, as well as of cyclic cosmology. These features indicate that anisotropic geometries in modified gravitational frameworks present radically different cosmological behaviors comparing to the simple isotropic scenarios.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures. Revised and updated versio

Extended phase-space analysis of the Horava-Lifshitz cosmology

We examine the phase space of Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz cosmology for a wide range of self-interacting potentials for the scalar field under the detailed-balance condition and without imposing it, by means of the powerful method of $f$-devisers. A compactification approach is performed for the exponential potential and for potentials beyond the exponential one, extending the previous findings in the literature. By using this approach it is possible to describe the finite region of the phase space and the region where the phase-space variables becomes infinity. Furthermore, we present several results concerning the stability of the \emph{de Sitter} solution in Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz cosmology using Center Manifold theory. The advantages of this procedure are unveiled immediately when it is compared with the Normal Forms Calculations presented before in the literature.Comment: 57 pages, double column, 16 compound figures. Version accepted for publication in the European Physical Journal