Minimal quartet-metric gravity: beyond LCDM per scalar graviton as the unified dark matter and dark energy

TL;DR

This paper proposes a minimal scalar graviton model that unifies dark matter and dark energy, extending the b1CDM model by modifying late universe expansion and addressing the cosmological constant problem.

Contribution

It introduces a scalar graviton framework that unifies dark matter and dark energy, providing a novel extension to the b1CDM model with implications for late universe expansion.

Findings

A scalar master equation defines an effective cosmological constant.

The model offers a partial solution to the cosmological constant problem.

Extension predicts modified late-time cosmic expansion.

Abstract

In the framework of the minimal quartet-metric gravity/systogravity, a scalar graviton/systolon is stated as a universal dark component, with supplementary manifestations in the different contexts either as dark matter or dark energy. An ensuing extension to the standard {\Lambda}CDM model is developed. A modification of the late expansion of the Universe, with an attractor of a scalar master equation defining an effective cosmological constant, which supersedes the true one, is proposed. A new partial solution to the cosmological constant problem is discussed.