Cosmology of non-minimal derivative coupling to gravity in Palatini formalism and its chaotic inflation

TL;DR

This paper explores a modified gravity model with non-minimal derivative coupling in Palatini formalism, analyzing its cosmological implications, black hole entropy, and inflationary predictions, including compatibility with Planck data.

Contribution

It introduces a novel Palatini formalism for non-minimal derivative coupling, deriving effective metrics, constraints, and inflationary predictions that differ from standard models.

Findings

Negative coupling allows acceleration with w_eff > -1/3

For V ∝ φ^2, tensor-to-scalar ratio r < 0.12, compatible with Planck

Quartic potential is disfavored by observational data

Abstract

We consider, in Palatini formalism, a modified gravity of which the scalar field derivative couples to Einstein tensor. In this scenario, Ricci scalar, Ricci tensor and Einstein tensor are functions of connection field. As a result, the connection field gives rise to relation, $h_{\mu\nu} = f g_{\mu\nu}$ between effective metric, $h_{\mu\nu}$ and the usual metric $g_{\mu\nu}$ where $f \,=\,1 - \kappa{\phi}^{,\alpha}{\phi}_{,\alpha}/2 $. In FLRW universe, NMDC coupling constant is limited in a range of $ -2/ \dot{\phi}^{2} < \kappa \leq \infty $ preserving Lorentz signature of the effective metric. Slowly-rolling regime provides $\kappa < 0$ forbidding graviton from travelling at superluminal speed. Effective gravitational coupling and entropy of blackhole's apparent horizon are derived. In case of negative coupling, acceleration could happen even with $w_{\rm eff} > -1/3$. Power-law potentials of chaotic inflation are considered. For $V \propto \phi^2$ and $V \propto \phi^4$, it is possible to obtain tensor-to-scalar ratio lower than that of GR so that it satisfies $r < 0.12$ as constrained by Planck 2015 \cite{Ade:2015lrj}. The $V \propto \phi^2$ case yields acceptable range of spectrum index and $r$ values. The quartic potential's spectrum index is disfavored by the Planck results. Viable range of $\k$ for $V \propto \phi^2$ case lies in positive region, resulting in less blackhole's entropy, superluminal metric, more amount of inflation, avoidance of super-Planckian field initial value and stronger gravitational constant.