We review in detail a number of approaches that have been adopted to try and explain the remarkable observation of our accelerating universe. In particular we discuss the arguments for and recent progress made towards understanding the nature of dark energy. We review the observational evidence for the current accelerated expansion of the universe and present a number of dark energy models in addition to the conventional cosmological constant, paying particular attention to scalar field models such as quintessence, K-essence, tachyon, phantom and dilatonic models. The importance of cosmological scaling solutions is emphasized when studying the dynamical system of scalar fields including coupled dark energy. We study the evolution of cosmological perturbations allowing us to confront them with the observation of the Cosmic Microwave Background and Large Scale Structure and demonstrate how it is possible in principle to reconstruct the equation of state of dark energy by also using Supernovae Ia observational data. We also discuss in detail the nature of tracking solutions in cosmology, particle physics and braneworld models of dark energy, the nature of possible future singularities, the effect of higher order curvature terms to avoid a Big Rip singularity, and approaches to modifying gravity which leads to a late-time accelerated expansion without recourse to a new form of dark energy.

Dynamics of dark energy

Unified cosmic history in modified gravity: from F(R) theory to Lorentz non-invariant models

Classical generalization of general relativity is considered as gravitational alternative for unified description of the early-time inflation with late-time cosmic acceleration. The structure and cosmological properties of number of modified theories, including traditional $F(R)$ and Hořava-Lifshitz $F(R)$ gravity, scalar-tensor theory, string-inspired and Gauss-Bonnet theory, non-local gravity, non-minimally coupled models, and power-counting renormalizable covariant gravity are discussed. Different representations and relations between such theories are investigated. It is shown that some versions of above theories may be consistent with local tests and may provide qualitatively reasonable unified description of inflation with dark energy epoch. The cosmological reconstruction of different modified gravities is made in great detail. It is demonstrated that eventually any given universe evolution may be reconstructed for the theories under consideration: the explicit reconstruction is applied to accelerating spatially-flat FRW universe. Special attention is paid to Lagrange multiplier constrained and conventional $F(R)$ gravities, for last theory the effective $\Lambda$CDM era and phantom-divide crossing acceleration are obtained. The occurrence of Big Rip and other finite-time future singularities in modified gravity is reviewed as well as its curing via the addition of higher-derivative gravitational invariants.

Modified gravity theories on a nutshell: Inflation, bounce and late-time evolution

We review different dark energy cosmologies. In particular, we present the ΛCDM cosmology, Little Rip and Pseudo-Rip universes, the phantom and quintessence cosmologies with Type I, II, III and IV finite-time future singularities and non-singular dark energy universes. In the first part, we explain the ΛCDM model and well-established observational tests which constrain the current cosmic acceleration. After that, we investigate the dark fluid universe where a fluid has quite general equation of state (EoS) [including inhomogeneous or imperfect EoS]. All the above dark energy cosmologies for different fluids are explicitly realized, and their properties are also explored. It is shown that all the above dark energy universes may mimic the ΛCDM model currently, consistent with the recent observational data. Furthermore, special attention is paid to the equivalence of different dark energy models. We consider single and multiple scalar field theories, tachyon scalar theory and holographic dark energy as models for current acceleration with the features of quintessence/phantom cosmology, and demonstrate their equivalence to the corresponding fluid descriptions. In the second part, we study another equivalent class of dark energy models which includes F(R) gravity as well as F(R) Hořava-Lifshitz gravity and the teleparallel f(T) gravity. The cosmology of such models representing the ΛCDM-like universe or the accelerating expansion with the quintessence/phantom nature is described. Finally, we approach the problem of testing dark energy and alternative gravity models to general relativity by cosmography. We show that degeneration among parameters can be removed by accurate data analysis of large data samples and also present the examples.

Dark energy cosmology: the equivalent description via different theoretical models and cosmography tests

We explore a possibility for the Universe to cross the $w=\ensuremath{-}1$ cosmological constant barrier for the dark energy state parameter. We consider the Universe as a slowly decaying D3-brane. The D3-brane dynamics are approximately described by a nonlocal string tachyon interaction and the backreaction of gravity is incorporated in the closed string tachyon dynamics. In a local effective approximation this model contains one phantom component and one usual field with a simple polynomial interaction. To understand cosmological properties of this system we study toy models with the same scalar fields but with modified interactions. These modifications admit polynomial superpotentials. We find restrictions on these interactions under which it is possible to reach $w=\ensuremath{-}1$ from below at large time. Explicit solutions with the dark energy state parameter crossing or not crossing the barrier $w=\ensuremath{-}1$ at large time are presented.

https://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/0507067.pdf

Crossing the w = - 1 barrier in the D3-brane dark energy model

An exact solution to the Friedmann equations with a string inspired phantom scalar matter field is constructed and the absence of the "Big Rip" singularity is shown explicitly. The notable features of the concerned model are a ghost sign of the kinetic term and a special polynomial form of the effective tachyon potential. The constructed solution is stable with respect to small fluctuations of the initial conditions and special deviations of the form of the potential.

Exactly Solvable SFT Inspired Phantom Model

A general class of cosmological models driven by a non-local scalar field inspired by string field theories is studied. In particular cases the scalar field is a string dilaton or a string tachyon. A distinguished feature of these models is a crossing of the phantom divide. We reveal the nature of this phenomena showing that it is caused by an equivalence of the initial non-local model to a model with an infinite number of local fields some of which are ghosts. Deformations of the model that admit exact solutions are constructed. These deformations contain locking potentials that stabilize solutions. Bouncing and accelerating solutions are presented.

Bouncing and Accelerating Solutions in Nonlocal Stringy Models

A nonlocal gravity model, which does not assume the existence of a new dimensional parameter in the action and includes a function $f(\Box^{-1} R)$, with $\Box$ the d'Alembertian operator, is considered. The model is proven to have de Sitter solutions only if the function f satisfies a certain second-order linear differential equation. The de Sitter solutions corresponding to the simplest case, an exponential function f, are explored, without any restrictions on the parameters. If the value of the Hubble parameter is positive, the de Sitter solution is stable at late times, both for negative and for positive values of the cosmological constant. Also, the stability of the solutions with zero cosmological constant is discussed and sufficient conditions for it are established in this case. New de Sitter solutions are obtained which correspond to the model with dark matter and stability is proven in this situation for nonzero values of the cosmological constant.

De Sitter universe in nonlocal gravity

A general class of cosmological models driven by a nonlocal scalar field inspired by the string field theory is studied. Using the fact that the considering linear nonlocal model is equivalent to an infinite number of local models we have found an exact special solution of the nonlocal Friedmann equations. This solution describes a monotonically increasing Universe with the phantom dark energy.

S. Yu. Vernov

Papers

Crossing the w = - 1 barrier in the D3-brane dark energy model

Exactly Solvable SFT Inspired Phantom Model

Bouncing and Accelerating Solutions in Nonlocal Stringy Models

De Sitter universe in nonlocal gravity

Dynamics in nonlocal linear models in the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric