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Variational principle is the main approach to obtain complete and self-consistent field equations in gravitational theories. This method works well in pure field cases such as $f(R)$ and Horndeski gravities. However, debates exist in the literature over the modification of perfect fluid. This paper aims to clarify this issue. For a wide class of modified fluid Lagrangian, we show that the variational principle is unable to give complete field equations. One additional equation is required for completeness. Adopting the local energy conservation equation gives the modified fluid a good thermodynamic interpretation. Our result is the first modified fluid theory that can incorporate energy conservation. As an application of this framework, we propose a specific modified fluid model to realize early dark energy triggered by cosmic radiation-matter transition. This model naturally explains why early dark energy occurs around matter-radiation equality and is useful in erasing the Hubble tension., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, published in Phys. Rev. D

We investigate the inflationary consequences of the oscillating dark energy model proposed by Ti��n [\href{https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.101.063531}{Phys. Rev. D {\bf 101}, 063531 (2020)}], which aims to solve the cosmological coincidence problem with multi-accelerating Universe (MAU). We point out that the inflationary dynamics belong to slow-roll inflation. The spectral index of scalar perturbations and the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ are shown to be consistent with current \textit{Planck} measurements. Especially, this model predicts $r\sim10^{-7}$, which is far below the observation limits. This result motivates us to explore the smallness of $r$ in the general MAU. We propose a quintessential generalization of the original model and prove $r, 8 pages, 3 figures, published in Phys. Rev. D

With the enhancement mechanism provided by a noncanonical kinetic term with a peak, the amplitude of primordial curvature perturbations can be enhanced by seven orders of magnitude at small scales while keeping to be consistent with observations at large scales. The peak function and inflationary potential are not restricted in this mechanism. We use the Higgs model and T-model as examples to show how abundant primordial black hole dark matter with different mass and scalar induced secondary gravitational waves with different peak frequency are generated. We also show that the enhanced power spectrum for the primordial curvature perturbations and the energy density of the scalar induced secondary gravitational waves can have either a sharp peak or a broad peak. The primordial black holes with the mass around ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}\ensuremath{-}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}\text{ }\text{ }{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ produced with the enhancement mechanism can make up almost all dark matter, and the scalar induced secondary gravitational waves accompanied with the production of primordial black holes can be tested by the pulsar timing arrays and spaced based gravitational wave observatory. Therefore, the mechanism can be tested by primordial black hole dark matter and gravitational wave observations.

We devise a novel mechanism and for the first time demonstrate that the Higgs model in particle physics can drive the inflation to satisfy the cosmic microwave background observations and simultaneously enhance the curvature perturbations at small scales to explain the abundance of dark matter in our universe in the form of primordial black holes. The production of primordial black holes is accompanied by the secondary gravitational waves induced by the first order Higgs fluctuations which is expected observable by space-based gravitational wave detectors. We propose possible cosmological probes of Higgs field in the future observations for primordial black holes dark matter or stochastic gravitational waves., added discussion on the running of the self-coupling, published in PRD

Early dark energy (EDE) that becomes subdominant around the epoch of matter-radiation equality can be used to ease the Hubble tension. However, there is a theoretical problem that why the energy scale of EDE is in coincidence with that of matter-radiation equality when their physics are completely unrelated. Sakstein and Trodden [Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 161301 (2020)] proposed a mechanism to solve this coincidence problem with $\mathcal{O}({\rm eV})$-mass neutrino. In this paper, in order to solve the coincidence problem, we propose a new scenario for EDE, in which the onset and ending of EDE are triggered by the radiation-matter transition. The specific example we study is a $k$-essence model. The cosmic evolution equations can be recast into a two-dimensional dynamical system and its main properties are analyzed. Our results suggest that $k$-essence seems unable to realize the new scenario for EDE. However, an EDE model with different scenario is realized in $k$-essence. In this model, the ending of EDE can be triggered by the radiation-matter transition while the onset depends on the initial conditions of the scalar field. Therefore, the obtained model can only be used to solve half of the coincidence problem. The full resolution in the framework of our initial proposed scenario is worthy of more research., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, published in Phys. Rev. D

The gravitational lensing of gravitational waves might cause beat patterns detectable by interferometers. The feature of this kind of signal is the existence of the beat pattern in the early inspiral phase, followed by a seemingly randomly changing profile. After the strain peaks for the first time, the signal takes the usual waveform and the strain peaks for the second time. Once this signal is detected, the actual magnification factors can be obtained, so the true luminosity distance of the binary system is known. If the lens can be described by a point mass or a singular isothermal sphere, the functional forms of the time delay and the magnification factors are simple enough, so we can infer the mass of the lens or the cosmological parameters., 9 pages, 4 figures

Nonlocal RT gravity is a successful modified gravity theory, which not only explains the late-time cosmic acceleration but also behaves well in the solar system. Previous analysis generally assumes the auxiliary field $S_i$ vanishes at the cosmic background. However, we find the background $S_i$ is proportional to $a^2$ with the expansion of the universe. Then we discuss the influence of the nonzero background $S_i$ on the cosmic background evolution, the scalar and tensor perturbations. We find the cosmic background evolution is independent of $S_i$, and the influence of the nonzero background $S_i$ on the weak field limit at solar system scales is negligible. For the tensor perturbation, we find the only possible observable effect is the influence of nonzero background $S_i$ on the LIGO gravitational wave amplitude and also luminosity distance. Future high redshift gravitational wave observations could be used to constrain the background value of $S_i$., Comment: 5 pages, PRD in press