Brane cosmology with curvature corrections

TL;DR

This paper explores how curvature corrections in brane-world cosmology can eliminate the big bang singularity and induce accelerated expansion without dark energy, aligning with standard cosmology at late times.

Contribution

It introduces a combined curvature correction model in brane cosmology that removes the big bang singularity and explains early accelerated expansion geometrically.

Findings

Elimination of the big bang singularity due to curvature corrections

Radiation brane exhibits accelerated expansion near minimal scale factor

Standard cosmology is recovered at late times

Abstract

We study the cosmology of the Randall-Sundrum brane-world where the Einstein-Hilbert action is modified by curvature correction terms: a four-dimensional scalar curvature from induced gravity on the brane, and a five-dimensional Gauss-Bonnet curvature term. The combined effect of these curvature corrections to the action removes the infinite-density big bang singularity, although the curvature can still diverge for some parameter values. A radiation brane undergoes accelerated expansion near the minimal scale factor, for a range of parameters. This acceleration is driven by the geometric effects, without an inflaton field or negative pressures. At late times, conventional cosmology is recovered.