Large-scale structure and the Cardassian fluid

In this paper, we confront the predictions of the power law cardassian model for the baryon power spectrum with the observations of the SDSS galaxy survey. We show that they fit only for very unusual values of the cold dark matter or baryon density parameters, the Hubble parameter or the spectral index of the initial power spectrum. Moreover, the best-fit Cardassian models turn out to be phantom models. If one wants to recover the usual values for these constants, as quoted by the WMAP team, the power law Cardassian model turns out to be indistinguishable from a LCDM model

Age of the Universe in the Cardassian Model

The age of the universe is obtained in a subset of Cardassian models by using WMAP data. Cardassian expansion is a modification to the Friedmann equation that allows the universe to be flat, matter dominated, and accelerating, without a vacuum component. Since this model changes the evolution of the universe, we should not a priori expect the Cardassian age to be the same as the WMAP Friedmann derived result of 13.7 +/- 0.2 Gyrs. However, in the subset of Cardassian models we consider, we discover that the age of the universe varies from 13.4 - 13.8 Gyr over the range of parameter space we explore, a result close to that of the standard Lambda Cold Dark Matter model. The Hubble constant h, which may also vary in these models, likewise varies little from the Friedmann result.Comment: 11 pages, two eps figures. v2: clarified choice of parameters, other minor changes. v3: added references, other changes to match version to be published in JCA

The present universe in the Einstein frame, metric-affine R+1/R gravity

We study the present, flat isotropic universe in 1/R-modified gravity. We use the Palatini (metric-affine) variational principle and the Einstein (metric-compatible connected) conformal frame. We show that the energy density scaling deviates from the usual scaling for nonrelativistic matter, and the largest deviation occurs in the present epoch. We find that the current deceleration parameter derived from the apparent matter density parameter is consistent with observations. There is also a small overlap between the predicted and observed values for the redshift derivative of the deceleration parameter. The predicted redshift of the deceleration-to-acceleration transition agrees with that in the \Lambda-CDM model but it is larger than the value estimated from SNIa observations.Comment: 11 pages; published versio

Duality extended Chaplygin cosmologies with a big rip

We consider modifications to the Friedmann equation motivated by recent proposals along these lines pursuing an explanation to the observed late time acceleration. Here we show those modifications can be framed within a theory with self-interacting gravity, where the term self-interaction refers here to the presence of functions of $\rho$ and $p$ in the right hand side of the Einstein equations. We then discuss the construction of the duals of the cosmologies generated within that framework. After that we investigate the modifications required to generate generalized and modified Chaplygin cosmologies and show that their duals belong to a larger family of cosmologies we call extended Chaplygin cosmologies. Finally, by letting the parameters of those models take values not earlier considered in the literature we show some representatives of that family of cosmologies display sudden future singularities, which indicates their behavior is rather different from generalized or modified Chaplygin gas cosmologies. This reinforces the idea that modifications of gravity can be responsible for unexpected evolutionary features in the universe.Comment: 5 pages, revtex

An inhomogeneous alternative to dark energy?

Recently, there have been suggestions that the apparent accelerated expansion of the universe is not caused by repulsive gravitation due to dark energy, but is rather a result of inhomogeneities in the distribution of matter. In this work, we investigate the behaviour of a dust dominated inhomogeneous Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi universe model, and confront it with various astrophysical observations. We find that such a model can easily explain the observed luminosity distance-redshift relation of supernovae without the need for dark energy, when the inhomogeneity is in the form of an underdense bubble centered near the observer. With the additional assumption that the universe outside the bubble is approximately described by a homogeneous Einstein-de Sitter model, we find that the position of the first CMB peak can be made to match the WMAP observations. Whether or not it is possible to reproduce the entire CMB angular power spectrum in an inhomogeneous model without dark energy, is still an open question.Comment: 8 pages (REVTeX4), 4 figures. v2: Minor changes to text plus added some references. Accepted for publication in PR

Covariant conservation of energy momentum in modified gravities

An explicit proof of the vanishing of the covariant divergence of the energy-momentum tensor in modified theories of gravity is presented. The gravitational action is written in arbitrary dimensions and allowed to depend nonlinearly on the curvature scalar and its couplings with a scalar field. Also the case of a function of the curvature scalar multiplying a matter Lagrangian is considered. The proof is given both in the metric and in the first-order formalism, i.e. under the Palatini variational principle. It is found that the covariant conservation of energy-momentum is built-in to the field equations. This crucial result, called the generalized Bianchi identity, can also be deduced directly from the covariance of the extended gravitational action. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in all of these cases, the freely falling world lines are determined by the field equations alone and turn out to be the geodesics associated with the metric compatible connection. The independent connection in the Palatini formulation of these generalized theories does not have a similar direct physical interpretation. However, in the conformal Einstein frame a certain bi-metricity emerges into the structure of these theories. In the light of our interpretation of the independent connection as an auxiliary variable we can also reconsider some criticisms of the Palatini formulation originally raised by Buchdahl.Comment: 8 pages. v2: more discussio

Gradient expansion(s) and dark energy

Motivated by recent claims stating that the acceleration of the present Universe is due to fluctuations with wavelength larger than the Hubble radius, we present a general analysis of various perturbative solutions of fully inhomogeneous Einstein equations supplemented by a perfect fluid. The equivalence of formally different gradient expansions is demonstrated. If the barotropic index vanishes, the deceleration parameter is always positive semi-definite.Comment: 17 pages, no figure

Dirac Cosmology and the Acceleration of the Contemporary Universe

A model is suggested to unify the Einstein GR and Dirac Cosmology. There is one adjusted parameter $b_2$ in our model. After adjusting the parameter $b_2$ in the model by using the supernova data, we have calculated the gravitational constant $\bar G$ and the physical quantities of $a(t)$, $q(t)$ and $\rho_r(t)/ \rho_b(t)$ by using the present day quantities as the initial conditions and found that the equation of state parameter $w_{\theta}$ equals to -0.83, the ratio of the density of the addition creation $\Omega_{\Lambda}=0.8$ and the ratio of the density of the matter including multiplication creation, radiation and normal matter $\Omega_m =0.2$ at present. The results are self-consistent and in good agreement with present knowledge in cosmology. These results suggest that the addition creation and multiplication creation in Dirac cosmology play the role of the dark energy and dark matter.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure

Cosmic Acceleration Driven by Mirage Inhomogeneities

A cosmological model based on an inhomogeneous D3-brane moving in an AdS_5 X S_5 bulk is introduced. Although there is no special points in the bulk, the brane Universe has a center and is isotropic around it. The model has an accelerating expansion and its effective cosmological constant is inversely proportional to the distance from the center, giving a possible geometrical origin for the smallness of a present-day cosmological constant. Besides, if our model is considered as an alternative of early time acceleration, it is shown that the early stage accelerating phase ends in a dust dominated FRW homogeneous Universe. Mirage-driven acceleration thus provides a dark matter component for the brane Universe final state. We finally show that the model fulfills the current constraints on inhomogeneities.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure, IOP style. v2, changed style, minor corrections, references added, version accepted in Class. Quant. Gra

Ellipsoidal configurations in the de Sitter spacetime

The cosmological constant $\Lambda$ modifies certain properties of large astrophysical rotating configurations with ellipsoidal geometries, provided the objects are not too compact. Assuming an equilibrium configuration and so using the tensor virial equation with $\Lambda$ we explore several equilibrium properties of homogeneous rotating ellipsoids. One shows that the bifurcation point, which in the oblate case distinguishes the Maclaurin ellipsoid from the Jacobi ellipsoid, is sensitive to the cosmological constant. Adding to that, the cosmological constant allows triaxial configurations of equilibrium rotating the minor axis as solutions of the virial equations. The significance of the result lies in the fact that minor axis rotation is indeed found in nature. Being impossible for the oblate case, it is permissible for prolate geometries, with $\Lambda$ zero and positive. For the triaxial case, however, an equilibrium solution is found only for non-zero positive $\Lambda$. Finally, we solve the tensor virial equation for the angular velocity and display special effects of the cosmological constant there.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, published in Class. Quant. Grav. References adde