Cosmological models based on relativity with a privileged frame

TL;DR

This paper develops a modified relativity framework with a privileged frame, leading to a new cosmological model that explains supernova data and other observations without dark energy.

Contribution

It introduces a relativity theory with a privileged frame and modifies general relativity accordingly, providing an alternative explanation for cosmic acceleration.

Findings

The model fits supernova luminosity-distance data without dark energy.

It explains negative deceleration parameters observed in supernova data.

The model is consistent with BAO and CMB observations.

Abstract

Special relativity (SR) with a privileged frame is a framework, which, like the standard relativity theory, is based on the relativity principle and the universality of the (two-way) speed of light but includes a privileged frame as an essential element. It is developed using the following first principles: (1) Anisotropy of the one-way speed of light in an inertial frame is due to its motion with respect to the privileged frame; (2) Space-time transformations between inertial frames leave the equation of anisotropic light propagation invariant; (3) A set of the transformations possesses a group structure. The Lie group theory apparatus is applied to define groups of transformations. The correspondingly modified general relativity (GR), like the standard GR, is based on the equivalence principle but with the properly modified space-time local symmetry in which an invariant combination differs from the Minkowski interval of the standard SR. Applying the modified GR to cosmology yields the luminosity distance -- redshift relation corrected such that the observed deceleration parameter can be negative as it was derived from the data for type Ia supernovae. Thus, the observed negative values of the deceleration parameter can be explained without introducing the dark energy. A number of other observations, such as Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) and Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) also can be well fit to the cosmological model arising from the GR based on the SR with a privileged frame.