Gaussian Process Approach for Model-Independent Reconstruction of $f(Q)$ Gravity with Direct Hubble Measurements

TL;DR

This paper employs Gaussian processes to reconstruct the $f(Q)$ gravity function in a model-independent manner using Hubble data, proposing a new quadratic parametrization that aligns with observations and alleviates the $H_0$ tension.

Contribution

It introduces a Gaussian process-based reconstruction method for $f(Q)$ gravity that does not rely on specific functional assumptions, and proposes a new quadratic $f(Q)$ model fitting observational data.

Findings

Reconstructed $f(Q)$ shows a quadratic behavior close to $ ext{Lambda}$CDM.

The new $f(Q)$ parametrization improves fits to observational data.

The approach helps alleviate the $H_0$ tension.

Abstract

The increase of discrepancy in the standard procedure to choose the arbitrary functional form of the Lagrangian $f(Q)$ motivates us to solve this issue in modified theories of gravity. In this regard, we investigate the Gaussian process (GP), which allows us to eliminate this issue in a $f(Q)$ model-independent way. In particular, we use the 57 Hubble measurements coming from cosmic chronometers and the radial Baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) to reconstruct $H(z)$ and its derivatives $H'(z)$, $H''(z)$, which resulting lead us to reconstruct region of $f(Q)$, without any assumptions. The obtained mean curve along $\Lambda$CDM constant in the reconstructed region follows a quadratic behavior. This motivates us to propose a new $f(Q)$ parametrization, i.e., $f(Q)= -2\Lambda+ \epsilon Q^2$, with the single parameter $\epsilon$, which signifies the deviations from $\Lambda$CDM cosmology. Further, we probe the widely studied power-law and exponential $f(Q)$ models against the reconstructed region and can improve the parameter spaces significantly compared with observational analysis. In addition, the direct Hubble measurements, along with the reconstructed $f(Q)$ function, allow the $H_0$ tension to be alleviated.