A novel teleparallel dark energy model

Although equivalent to general relativity, teleparallel gravity is conceptually speaking a completely different theory. In this theory, the gravitational field is described by torsion, not by curvature. By working in this context, a new model is proposed in which the four-derivative of a canonical scalar field representing dark energy is nonminimally coupled to the "vector torsion". This type of coupling is motivated by the fact that a scalar field couples to torsion through its four-derivative, which is consistent with local spacetime kinematics regulated by the de Sitter group $SO(1,4)$. It is found that the current state of accelerated expansion of the Universe corresponds to a late-time attractor that can be (i) a dark-energy-dominated de Sitter solution ($\omega_{\phi}=-1$), (ii) a quintessence-type solution with $\omega_{\phi}\geq-1$, or (iii) a phantom-type $\omega_{\phi}<-1$ dark energy.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures, 3 table

Dynamical system analysis for nonminimal torsion-matter coupled gravity

In this work, we perform a detailed dynamical analysis for the cosmological applications of a nonminimal torsion-matter coupled gravity. Two alternative formalisms are proposed, which enable one to choose between the easier approach for a given problem, and furthermore, we analyze six specific models. In general, we extract fixed points corresponding either to dark-matter dominated, scaling decelerated solutions, or to dark-energy dominated accelerated solutions. Additionally, we find that there is a small parameter region in which the model can experience the transition from the matter epoch to a dark-energy era. These features are in agreement with the observed universe evolution, and make the theory a successful candidate for the description of Nature.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Cosmological dynamics of tachyonic teleparallel dark energy

A detailed dynamical analysis of the tachyonic teleparallel dark energy model, in which a non-canonical scalar field (tachyon field) is non-minimally coupled to gravitation, is performed. It is found that, when the non-minimal coupling is ruled by a dynamically changing coefficient $\alpha\equiv f_{,\phi}/\sqrt{f}$, with $f(\phi)$ an arbitrary function of the scalar field $\phi$, the universe may experience a field-matter-dominated era "$\phi$MDE", in which it has some portions of the energy density of $\phi$ in the matter dominated era. This is the most significant difference in relation to the so-called teleparallel dark energy scenario, in which a canonical scalar field (quintessence) is non-minimally coupled to gravitation.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1305.047