A modified Friedmann equation for a system with varying gravitational mass

TL;DR

This paper proposes a modified Friedmann equation accounting for varying gravitational mass, inspired by gravitational wave observations, which introduces a term akin to the cosmological constant and aligns with observed cosmic acceleration.

Contribution

It introduces a new modification to the Friedmann equation based on varying gravitational mass, linking gravitational wave data to cosmological models.

Findings

Modified Friedmann equation with a cosmological constant-like term

Theoretical estimates match observed cosmic acceleration

Highlights importance of gravitational mass variation in cosmology

Abstract

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detection of gravitational waves that take away 5% of the total mass of two merging black holes points out on the importance of considering varying gravitational mass of a system. Using an assumption that the energy-momentum pseudo-tensor of gravitational waves is not considered as a source of gravitational field, we analyse a perturbation of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric caused by the varying gravitational mass of a system. This perturbation leads to a modified Friedmann equation that contains a term similar to the 'cosmological constant'. Theoretical estimates of the effective cosmological constant quantitatively corresponds to observed cosmological acceleration.