Cosmological Constraints on the Modified Entropic Force Model

TL;DR

This paper investigates the cosmological implications of the Modified Entropic Force (MEF) model, a gravity theory inspired by holography and thermodynamics, and constrains its parameters using observational data.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed cosmological constraints on the MEF model, revealing how it can explain cosmic acceleration without dark energy.

Findings

Model parameters are tightly constrained by data.

The MEF model can account for universe acceleration.

The root cause of acceleration in MEF is clarified.

Abstract

Very recently, Verlinde considered a theory in which space is emergent through a holographic scenario, and proposed that gravity can be explained as an entropic force caused by changes in the information associated with the positions of material bodies. Then, motivated by the Debye model in thermodynamics which is very successful in very low temperatures, Gao modified the entropic force scenario. The modified entropic force (MEF) model is in fact a modified gravity model, and the universe can be accelerated without dark energy. In the present work, we consider the cosmological constraints on the MEF model, and successfully constrain the model parameters to a narrow range. We also discuss many other issues of the MEF model. In particular, we clearly reveal the implicit root to accelerate the universe in the MEF model.