Scale-dependent and background-preserving gravity from an action: cosmological tests

TL;DR

This paper explores a scale-dependent gravity model with RG corrections that preserves background GR, tests its cosmological implications with observational data, and finds it consistent with ΛCDM but not significantly resolving existing tensions.

Contribution

It introduces a scale-dependent gravity model with RG corrections, analyzing its observational effects and comparing it to ΛCDM using extensive cosmological data.

Findings

RG corrections are consistent with ΛCDM predictions

The model slightly increases parameter uncertainties

Current data does not favor this model over ΛCDM

Abstract

We investigate the observational implications of a gravitational model wherein the gravitational constant $G$ and the cosmological constant $\Lambda$ exhibit scale-dependent behavior at the perturbative level, while preserving the General Relativity (GR) field equations at the background. This model is motivated by the potential influence of large-scale (infrared) Renormalization Group (RG) corrections to gravity and is constructed upon an effective action incorporating a scale definition via Lagrange multipliers. We explore the effects of these modifications during the recombination epoch with particular focus on their impact on the structure of acoustic oscillations. Additionally, we perform a comprehensive parameter fitting analysis using data from the Cosmic Microwave background (CMB), type Ia Supernovae (SN Ia), Baryon Acoustic Oscilations (BAO) and Redshift Space Distortions (RSD). Our results indicate that the RG corrections here considered are consistent with the main predictions of the $\Lambda$CDM model, and they slightly increase the uncertainties in the parameter estimations. Such small differences cannot be used to dismiss the current cosmological tensions. Although previous results indicated that this model is more flexible than $\Lambda$CDM regarding RSD data, potentially alleviating tensions, this advantage becomes negligible with the current extended data set. The framework maintains its theoretical consistency and foundation; however, unless further generalized, it cannot effectively address current cosmological issues.