Nonminimal torsion-matter coupling extension of f(T) gravity

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new extension of f(T) gravity with non-minimal torsion-matter coupling, capable of explaining various cosmological phenomena including dark energy behavior and early inflation within a unified framework.

Contribution

It develops a novel gravitational theory extending f(T) gravity by incorporating non-minimal torsion-matter coupling, distinct from existing models.

Findings

The theory allows for dark energy with quintessence or phantom-like behavior.

It predicts a de Sitter accelerating universe for a wide parameter range.

It provides solutions for early-time inflation, unifying cosmological history.

Abstract

We construct an extension of f(T) gravity with the inclusion of a non-minimal torsion-matter coupling in the action. The resulting theory is a novel gravitational modification, since it is different from both f(T) gravity, as well as from the non-minimal curvature-matter-coupled theory. The cosmological application of this new theory proves to be very interesting. In particular, we obtain an effective dark energy sector whose equation-of-state parameter can be quintessence or phantom-like, or exhibit the phantom-divide crossing, while for a large range of the model parameters the Universe results in a de Sitter, dark-energy-dominated, accelerating phase. Additionally, we can obtain early-time inflationary solutions too, and thus provide a unified description of the cosmological history.