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arXiv · 1211.5403

Cosmologies in Horndeski's second-order vector-tensor theory

John D. Barrow·Mikjel Thorsrud·Kei Yamamoto
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Abstract

Horndeski derived a most general vector-tensor theory in which the vector field respects the gauge symmetry and the resulting dynamical equations are of second order. The action contains only one free parameter, $λ$, that determines the strength of the non-minimal coupling between the gauge field and gravity. We investigate the cosmological consequences of this action and discuss observational constraints. For $λ<0$ we identify singularities where the deceleration parameter diverges within a finite proper time. This effectively rules out any sensible cosmological application of the theory for a negative non-minimal coupling. We also find a range of parameter that gives a viable cosmology and study the phenomenology for this case. Observational constraints on the value of the coupling are rather weak since the interaction is higher-order in space-time curvature.

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John D. Barrow, Mikjel Thorsrud, Kei Yamamoto. 2013-03-11. Cosmologies in Horndeski's second-order vector-tensor theory. https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep02(2013)146

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