With the usual definitions for the entropy and the temperature associated with the apparent horizon, we show that the unified first law on the apparent horizon is equivalent to the Friedmann equation for the scalar--tensor theory with non-minimally derivative coupling. The second law of thermodynamics on the apparent horizon is also satisfied. The results support a deep and fundamental connection between gravitation, thermodynamics, and quantum theory.
We use the Constitution supernova, the baryon acoustic oscillation, the cosmic microwave background, and the Hubble parameter data to analyze the evolution property of dark energy. We obtain different results when we fit different baryon acoustic oscillation data combined with the Constitution supernova data to the Chevallier-Polarski-Linder model. We find that the difference stems from the different values of $Omega_{m0}$. We also fit the observational data to the model independent piecewise constant parametrization. Four redshift bins with boundaries at $z=0.22$, 0.53, 0.85 and 1.8 were chosen for the piecewise constant parametrization of the equation of state parameter $w(z)$ of dark energy. We find no significant evidence for evolving $w(z)$. With the addition of the Hubble parameter, the constraint on the equation of state parameter at high redshift isimproved by 70%. The marginalization of the nuisance parameter connected to the supernova distance modulus is discussed.
The growth rate of matter perturbation and the expansion rate of the Universe can be used to distinguish modified gravity and dark energy models in explaining the cosmic acceleration. The growth rate is parametrized by the growth index $gamma$. We discuss the dependence of $gamma$ on the matter energy density $Omega$ and its current value $Omega_0$ for a more accurate approximation of the growth factor. The observational data, including the data of the growth rate, are used to fit different models. The data strongly disfavor the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati model. For the dark energy model with a constant equation of state, we find that $Omega_0=0.27pm 0.02$ and $w=-0.97pm 0.09$. For the $Lambda$CDM model, we find that $gamma=0.64^{+0.17}_{-0.15}$. For the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati model, we find that $gamma=0.55^{+0.14}_{-0.13}$.
The extended holographic dark energy model with the Hubble horizon as the infrared cutoff avoids the problem of the circular reasoning of the holographic dark energy model. We show that the infrared cutoff of the extended holographic dark energy model cannot be the Hubble horizon provided that the Brans-Dicke parameter $omega$ satisfies the experimental constraint $omega> 10^4$, and this is proved as a no-go theorem. The no-go theorem also applies to the case in which the dark matter interacts with the dark energy.
We use the Monte-Carlo Markov Chain method to explore the dark energy property and the cosmic curvature by fitting two popular dark energy parameterizations to the observational data. The new 182 gold supernova Ia data and the ESSENCE data both give good constraint on the DE parameters and the cosmic curvature for the dark energy model $w_0+w_a z/(1+z)$. The cosmic curvature is found to be $|Omega_k|la 0.03$. For the dark energy model $w_0+w_a z/(1+z)^2$, the ESSENCE data gives better constraint on the cosmic curvature and we get $|Omega_k|leq 0.02$.
Orbifold branes are studied in the framework of the 11-dimensional Horava-Witten heterotic M-Theory. It is found that the effective cosmological constant can be easily lowered to its current observational value by the mechanism of large extra dimensions. The domination of this constant over the evolution of the universe is only temporarily. Due to the interaction of the bulk and the branes, the universe will be in its decelerating expansion phase again in the future, whereby all problems connected with a far future de Sitter universe are resolved.
With the help of a masslike function which has dimension of energy and equals to the Misner-Sharp mass at the apparent horizon, we show that the first law of thermodynamics of the apparent horizon $dE=T_AdS_A$ can be derived from the Friedmann equation in various theories of gravity, including the Einstein, Lovelock, nonlinear, and scalar-tensor theories. This result strongly suggests that the relationship between the first law of thermodynamics of the apparent horizon and the Friedmann equation is not just a simple coincidence, but rather a more profound physical connection.
Using the data coming from the new 182 Gold type Ia supernova samples, the shift parameter of the Cosmic Microwave Background given by the three-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe observations, and the baryon acoustic oscillation measurement from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, $H(z)$ and lookback time measurements, we have performed a statistical joint analysis of the interacting holographic dark energy model. Consistent parameter estimations show us that the interacting holographic dark energy model is a viable candidate to explain the observed acceleration of our universe.
