Exact Integrable $\Lambda$CDM-Mimicking $f(Q)$ Cosmology: Background, Stability, and Perturbations in the First Connection Branch

Abstract

We re-examine the problem of mimicking the standard cosmological model, characterized by $j=1$ (where $j$ is the cosmographic jerk parameter), within the context of the first connection branch of $f(Q)$ gravity. While this problem has previously been addressed via reconstruction techniques$-$yielding the analytic form $f(Q)=-2\Lambda+\alpha Q + \beta\sqrt{-Q}$ with $Q=-6H^2$ $-$here we tackle this problem from two distinct perspectives, applying either a cosmographic closure strategy or an auxiliary-variable hierarchy approach to the traditional dynamical systems formulation. Remarkably, the cosmographic closure renders the dynamical system integrable for $\Lambda$CDM-mimicking $f(Q)$ models. Consequently, we obtain closed-form analytical solutions for all relevant cosmological quantities at both the background and linear perturbation levels, with the perturbative solutions elegantly expressed in terms of generalized Heun functions. Furthermore, we analyze the structural stability of the $\Lambda$CDM-mimicking phase space against small kinematic deviations from $j=1$, demonstrating the robustness of these solutions. Our approach provides a systematic route to studying $\Lambda$CDM-mimicking dynamics without requiring a closed-form analytic reconstruction of the underlying action. Finally, we utilize this framework to establish a direct comparison between $\Lambda$CDM-mimicking dynamics in the first connection branch of $f(Q)$ gravity and those in $f(R)$ gravity.