No Arabic abstract
We construct a generalization of the standard $Lambda$CDM model, wherein we simultaneously replace the spatially flat Robertson-Walker metric with its simplest anisotropic generalization (LRS Bianchi I metric), and couple the cold dark matter to the gravity in accordance with the energy-momentum squared gravity (EMSG) of the form $f(T_{mu u}T^{mu u})propto T_{mu u}T^{mu u}$. These two modifications -- namely, two new stiff fluid-like terms of different nature -- can mutually cancel out, i.e., the shear scalar can be screened completely, and reproduce mathematically exactly the same Friedmann equation of the standard $Lambda$CDM model. This evades the BBN limits on the anisotropy, and thereby provides an opportunity to manipulate the cosmic microwave background quadrupole temperature fluctuation at the desired amount. We further discuss the consequences of the model on the very early times and far future of the Universe. This study presents also an example of that the EMSG of the form $f(T_{mu u}T^{mu u})propto T_{mu u}T^{mu u}$, as well as similar type other constructions, is not necessarily relevant only to very early Universe but may even be considered in the context of a major problem of the current cosmology related to the present-day Universe, the so-called $H_0$ problem.
We analyze Brans-Dicke gravity with a cosmological constant, $Lambda$, and cold dark matter (BD-$Lambda$CDM for short) in the light of the latest cosmological observations on distant supernovae, Hubble rate measurements at different redshifts, baryonic acoustic oscillations, large scale structure formation data, gravitational weak-lensing and the cosmic microwave background under full Planck 2015 CMB likelihood. Our analysis includes both the background and perturbations equations. We find that BD-$Lambda$CDM is observationally favored as compared to the concordance $Lambda$CDM model, which is traditionally defined within General Relativity (GR). In particular, some well-known persisting tensions of the $Lambda$CDM with the data, such as the excess in the mass fluctuation amplitude $sigma_8$ and specially the acute $H_0$-tension with the local measurements, essentially disappear in this context. Furthermore, viewed from the GR standpoint, BD-$Lambda$CDM cosmology mimics quintessence at $gtrsim3sigma$ c.l. near our time.
We study observational constraints on the non-metricity $f(Q)$-gravity which reproduces an exact $Lambda$CDM background expansion history while modifying the evolution of linear perturbations. To this purpose we use Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation, baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAO), redshift-space distortions (RSD), supernovae type Ia (SNIa), galaxy clustering (GC) and weak gravitational lensing (WL) measurements. We set stringent constraints on the parameter of the model controlling the modifications to the gravitational interaction at linear perturbation level. We find the model to be statistically preferred by data over the $Lambda$CDM according to the $chi^2$ and deviance information criterion statistics for the combination with CMB, BAO, RSD and SNIa. This is mostly associated to a better fit to the low-$ell$ tail of CMB temperature anisotropies.
We study the phenomenology of a class of minimally modified gravity theories called $f(mathcal{H})$ theories, in which the usual general relativistic Hamiltonian constraint is replaced by a free function of it. After reviewing the construction of the theory and a consistent matter coupling, we analyze the dynamics of cosmology at the levels of both background and perturbations, and present a concrete example of the theory with a $3$-parameter family of the function $f$. Finally, we compare this example model to Planck data as well as some later-time probes, showing that such a realization of $f(mathcal{H})$ theories fits the data significantly better than the standard $Lambda$CDM model, in particular by modifying gravity at intermediate redshifts, $zsimeq743$.
Inspired by the recent conjecture that the universe has transitioned from AdS vacua to dS vacua in the late universe made via graduated dark energy, we extend the $Lambda$CDM model by a cosmological `constant ($Lambda_{rm s}$) that switches sign at certain redshift, $z_dagger$, and name it as $Lambda_{rm s}$CDM. We discuss the construction and theoretical features of this model, and find out that, when the consistency of $Lambda_{rm s}$CDM with the CMB data is ensured, (i) $z_daggergtrsim1.1$ is implied by the condition that the universe monotonically expands, (ii) $H_0$ is inversely correlated with $z_dagger$ and reaches $approx74.5~{rm km, s^{-1}, Mpc^{-1}}$ for $z_dagger=1.5$, (iii) $H(z)$ presents an excellent fit to the Ly-$alpha$ measurements provided that $z_daggerlesssim 2.34$. We further investigate the model constraints by using the full Planck CMB data, with and without BAO data. We find that the CMB data alone does not constrain $z_dagger$ but CMB+BAO dataset favors the sign switch of $Lambda_{rm s}$ providing the constraint: $z_dagger=2.44pm0.29$ (68% CL). Our analysis reveals that the lower and upper limits of $z_dagger$ are controlled by the Galaxy and Ly-$alpha$ BAO measurements, respectively, and the larger $z_{dagger}$ values imposed by the Galaxy BAO data prevent the model from achieving the highest local $H_0$ measurements. In general, $Lambda_{rm s}$CDM (i) relaxes the $H_0$ tension while being fully consistent with the TRGB measurement, (ii) removes the discrepancy with the Ly-$alpha$ measurements, (iii) relaxes the $S_8$ tension, and (iv) finds a better agreement with the BBN constraints of physical baryon density. We find no strong statistical evidence to discriminate between the $Lambda_{rm s}$CDM and $Lambda$CDM models. However, interesting and promising features of $Lambda_{rm s}$CDM provide an upper edge over $Lambda$CDM.
We study Planck 2015 cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy data using the energy density inhomogeneity power spectrum generated by quantum fluctuations during an early epoch of inflation in the non-flat $Lambda$CDM model. Unlike earlier analyses of non-flat models, which assumed an inconsistent power-law power spectrum of energy density inhomogeneities, we find that the Planck 2015 data alone, and also in conjunction with baryon acoustic oscillation measurements, are reasonably well fit by a closed $Lambda$CDM model in which spatial curvature contributes a few percent of the current cosmological energy density budget. In this model, the measured Hubble constant and non-relativistic matter density parameter are in good agreement with values determined using most other data. Depending on parameter values, the closed $Lambda$CDM model has reduced power, relative to the tilted, spatially-flat $Lambda$CDM case, and can partially alleviate the low multipole CMB temperature anisotropy deficit and can help partially reconcile the CMB anisotropy and weak lensing $sigma_8$ constraints, at the expense of somewhat worsening the fit to higher multipole CMB temperature anisotropy data. Our results are interesting but tentative; a more thorough analysis is needed to properly gauge their significance.