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Motivated by different approaches to quantum gravity, one could consider that Lorentz invariance is not an exact symmetry of nature at all energy scales. Following this spirit, modified dispersion relations have been used to encapsulate quantum gravity phenomenology. In the present work, we propose a class of Lorentz invariance violating phenomenological dispersion relations, which could be different for each particle species, to study the generalized vacuum Cherenkov radiation process. We identify the kinematic regions where the process is allowed and then compute the energy loss rate due to the emission of vacuum electromagnetic and gravitational Cherenkov radiation. Furthermore, we estimate constraints for the Lorentz invariance breaking parameters of protons and gravitons taking into account the existence (or absence) of vacuum gravitational Cherenkov radiation using ultra high energy cosmic ray detections., Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, prepared for submission

We consider theories which break the invariance under diffeomorphisms (Diff) down to transverse diffeomorphisms (TDiff) in the matter sector, consisting of multiple scalar fields. In particular, we regard shift-symmetric models with two free TDiff scalar fields in a flat Robertson-Walker spacetime and use the perfect fluid approach to study their dynamics. As a consequence of the symmetry breaking, an effective interaction between the fields is induced from the conservation of the total energy-momentum tensor, without the necessity to introduce any explicit interacting term in the Lagrangian. We study the different single-field domination regimes and analyze the energy exchange between the fields. Thereupon, we introduce an application of these models for the description of interactions in the dark sector, and compare the theoretical predictions of our model to observational data from Type Ia supernovae., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures

We discuss the possibility of a scalar field being the fundamental description of dark energy. We focus on shift-symmetric scalar-tensor theories since this symmetry potentially avoids some fine-tuning problems. We also restrict attention to theories satisfying that the propagation speed of gravitational waves is equal to the speed of light. These considerations lead us to investigate shift-symmetric Kinetic Gravity Braiding theories. Analysing the stability of scalar linear perturbations, we discuss the conditions that seems to be necessary to describe (super) accelerated cosmic expansion without introducing instabilities. However, it has been previously established that the linearised analysis does not guarantee the stability of this non-canonical scalar theory, as potentially dangerous interactions between dark energy fluctuations and tensor perturbations (essentially gravitational waves) appear at a higher order in perturbation theory. Indeed, although we shall point out that the standard proof of absence of dark energy stable braiding models due to this interaction has a possible way-out, we find general arguments suggesting that there are no dark energy stable solutions that can exploit this loophole. Thus, we discuss future research directions for finding viable fundamental descriptions of dark energy. We also provide a dictionary between the covariant version of the scalar field theory and that of the Effective Field Theory approach, explicitly computing the parameters in the latter formalism in terms of the functions appearing in the covariant version, and its derivatives. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time these expressions are explicitly obtained up-to arbitrary order in perturbation theory., Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures. v2: 22 pages, references added, typos corrected, minor changes in the text, no physics changes. This version accepted for publication in Physics of the Dark Universe

We explore the idea of restoring the full diffeomorphism (Diff) invariance in theories with only transverse diffeomorphisms (TDiff) by the introduction of additional fields. In particular, we consider in detail the case of a TDiff invariant scalar field and how Diff symmetry can be restored preserving locality by introducing an additional vector field. We reobtain the corresponding dynamics and energy-momentum tensor from the covariantized action and analyze the potential and kinetic domination regimes. For the former, the theory describes a cosmological constant-type behaviour, while for the latter we show that the theory can describe an adiabatic perfect fluid whose equation of state and speed of sound is obtained in a straightforward way. Furthermore, the reformulation with the full symmetry allows us to analyze the gravitational properties of the theory beyond those particular regimes. In particular, we find the general expression for the effective speed of sound of the non-adiabatic perfect fluid, which provides us with physically reasonable conditions that should be satisfied by the coupling functions. Finally, we investigate the particular models leading to an adiabatic fluid., Comment: V2: 24 pages, new section V, new appendix, new applications, conclusions unchanged, version accepted for publication in PRD. V1: 9 pages, 1 Appendix

We reflect on the possibility of having a matter action that is invariant only under transverse diffeomorphisms. This possibility is particularly interesting for the dark sector, where no restrictions arise based on the weak equivalence principle. In order to implement this idea we consider a scalar field which couples to gravity minimally but via arbitrary functions of the metric determinant. We show that the energy-momentum tensor of the scalar field takes the perfect fluid form when its velocity vector is time-like. We analyze the conservation of this tensor in detail, obtaining a seminal novel result for the energy density of this field in the kinetic dominated regime. Indeed, in this regime the fluid is always adiabatic and we obtain an explicit expression for the speed of sound. Furthermore, to get insight in the gravitational properties of these theories, we consider the fulfillment of the energy conditions, concluding that nontrivial physically reasonable matter violates the strong energy condition in the potential domination regime. On the other hand, we present some shift-symmetric models of particular interest. These are: constant equation of state models (which may provide us with a successful description of dark matter or dark radiation) and models presenting different gravitational domains (characterized by the focusing or possible defocusing of time-like geodesics), as it happens in unified dark matter-energy models., Comment: V2: 26 pages, 1 figure, new comments included, appendix added, conclusions unchanged, version accepted for publication in JHEP

Graviton-photon oscillation is the conversion of gravitational waves to electromagnetic waves and vice versa in the presence of a background electromagnetic field. We investigate this phenomenon in a cosmological scenario considering a background cosmic magnetic field and assuming different gravitational frameworks. We obtain the damping term that characterizes the attenuation of the conversion probability in cosmological backgrounds. This is a general feature that is present even for standard General Relativity. Furthermore, we show that the effects of decoherence, which are due to the interaction with the cosmological expansion and with the additional degrees of freedom of alternative theories of gravity, can be relevant to the phenomenon of graviton-photon mixing., Comment: V1:12 pages, 4 figures; V2: some clarifications included, references added. Version accepted for publication in PRD

We revise the expansion history of the scalar field theories known as Kinetic Gravity Braiding. These theories are well-known for the possibility of driving the expansion of the cosmos towards a future self-tuning de Sitter state when the corresponding Lagrangian is invariant under constant shifts in the scalar field. Nevertheless, this is not the only possible future fate of these shift-symmetric models. Using a dynamical system formulation we show that future cosmological singularities can also appear in this framework. Moreover, we present explicit examples where the future attractor in the configuration space of the theory corresponds to a big rip singularity., Comment: v1: 22 pages, 4 tables; v2: three references added, no physics changes; v3: 24 pages, two references added, typo corrected in equation (A.7), minor comments added in sections 3, 4.1, 4.2 and 6, no physics changes, matches published version

We revise the future fate of a group of scalar-tensor theories known as kinetic gravity braiding models. As it is well-known, these theories can safely drive the expansion of the universe towards a future de Sitter state if the corresponding Lagrangian is invariant under constant shifts in the scalar field. However, this is not the only possible future state of these shift-symmetric models as we show in this letter. In fact, future cosmic singularities characterized by a divergence of the energy density can also appear in this framework. We present an explicit example where a big rip singularity is the only possible future fate of the cosmos., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. v2: minor modifications in the conclusions section, no physics changes, matches PLB published version

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) has the potential to reveal wonders about the fundamental theory of nature at play in the extreme gravity regime, where the gravitational interaction is both strong and dynamical. In this white paper, the Fundamental Physics Working Group of the LISA Consortium summarizes the current topics in fundamental physics where LISA observations of GWs can be expected to provide key input. We provide the briefest of reviews to then delineate avenues for future research directions and to discuss connections between this working group, other working groups and the consortium work package teams. These connections must be developed for LISA to live up to its science potential in these areas., Comment: Accepted in: Living Reviews in Relativity

The big rip, the little rip and the little sibling of the big rip are cosmological doomsdays predicted by some phantom dark energy models that could describe the future evolution of our Universe. When the universe evolves towards either of these future cosmic events all bounded structures and, ultimately, space-time itself are ripped apart. Nevertheless, it is commonly belief that quantum gravity effects may smooth or even avoid these classically predicted singularities. In this review, we discuss the classical and quantum occurrence of these riplike events in the scheme of metric $f(R)$ theories of gravity. The quantum analysis is performed in the framework of $f(R)$ quantum geometrodynamics. In this context, we analyse the fulfilment of the DeWitt criterion for the avoidance of these singular fates., Comment: Invited review submitted to Universe for the Special Issue on "Quantum Cosmology", ed. by Prof. Paulo Vargas Moniz, 32 pages, 3 tables. v2: typos fixed, references added, matches published version

General Relativity and the $\Lambda$CDM framework are currently the standard lore and constitute the concordance paradigm. Nevertheless, long-standing open theoretical issues, as well as possible new observational ones arising from the explosive development of cosmology the last two decades, offer the motivation and lead a large amount of research to be devoted in constructing various extensions and modifications. All extended theories and scenarios are first examined under the light of theoretical consistency, and then are applied to various geometrical backgrounds, such as the cosmological and the spherical symmetric ones. Their predictions at both the background and perturbation levels, and concerning cosmology at early, intermediate and late times, are then confronted with the huge amount of observational data that astrophysics and cosmology are able to offer recently. Theories, scenarios and models that successfully and efficiently pass the above steps are classified as viable and are candidates for the description of Nature. This work is a Review of the recent developments in the fields of gravity and cosmology, presenting the state of the art, high-lighting the open problems, and outlining the directions of future research. Its realization was performed in the framework of the COST European Action ``Cosmology and Astrophysics Network for Theoretical Advances and Training Actions''., Comment: 543 pages

The little rip is a cosmological abrupt event predicted by some phantom dark energy models that could describe the future evolution of our Universe. This event can be interpreted as a big rip singularity delayed indefinitely, although in those models bounded structures will be destroyed in a finite cosmic time in the future. In this work, we analyse the little rip cosmology from a classical and quantum point of view within the scheme of alternative metric $f(R)$ theories of gravity. The quantum analysis is performed in the framework of $f(R)$ quantum geometrodynamics by means of the modified Wheeler-DeWitt equation. In this context, we show that the DeWitt criterion can be satisfied. Similar to what happens in general relativity, this result points towards the avoidance of the little rip in $f(R)$ quantum cosmology., Comment: 14 pages. v2: typos fixed, references added, matches published version

We consider the Hawking-Ellis (Segre-Plebanski) classification of stress-energy tensors, both in the test-field limit, and in the presence of back-reaction governed by the usual Einstein equations. For test fields it is not too difficult to get a type~IV stress-energy via quantum vacuum polarization effects. (For example, consider the Unruh quantum vacuum state for a massless scalar field in the Schwarzschild background.) However, in the presence of back-reaction driven by the ordinary Einstein equations the situation is often much more constrained. For instance: (1) in any static spacetime the stress-energy is always type I in the domain of outer communication, and on any horizon that might be present; (2) in any stationary axisymmetric spacetime the stress-energy is always type I on any horizon that might be present; (3) on any Killing horizon that is extendable to a bifurcation 2-surface the stress-energy is always type I; (4) in any stationary axisymmetric spacetime the stress-energy is always type I on the axis of symmetry; (5) some of the homogeneous Bianchi cosmologies are guaranteed to be Hawking-Ellis type I (for example, all the Bianchi type I cosmologies, all the FLRW cosmologies, and all the "single mode" Bianchi cosmologies). That is, in very many physically interesting situations once one includes back-reaction the more unusual stress-energy types are automatically excluded., Comment: V1: 30 pages; V2: minor typos fixed; no physics changes

The Little Sibling of the Big Rip is a cosmological abrupt event predicted by some phantom cosmological models that could describe our Universe. When this event is approached the observable Universe and its expansion rate grow infinitely, but its cosmic derivative remains finite. In this work we have obtained the group of metric $f(R)$ theories of gravity that reproduce this classical cosmological background evolution. Furthermore, we have considered the quantization of some of the resulting models in the framework of quantum geometrodynamics, showing that the DeWitt criterion can be satisfied. Therefore, as it also happens in General Relativity, this event may be avoided in $f(R)$ quantum cosmology., Comment: 10 pages; title changed; 1 table added; 8 references added; no physics changes. This version accepted for publication in Physical Review D

We present some advances in the understanding of type III stress-energy tensors as per the Hawking-Ellis classification. Type I and type II naturally appear in classical situations, and can also describe semiclassical effects. Type IV often shows up in semiclassical gravity. Type III is much more subtle. We focus our attention on type III$_0$ stress-energy tensors, which capture the essence ("essential core") of type III. Reflecting on known purely phenomenological examples, ("gyratons"), we are able to generalize the geometry generated by those type III$_0$ stress-energy tensors. Moreover, we also succeed in extending work by Griffiths based on massless Weyl spinors by finding a fundamental classical bosonic Lagrangian description of these type III$_0$ stress-energy tensors. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time in the literature that a consistent classical bosonic Lagrangian formulation for type III$_0$ stress-energy has been found., Comment: V3: 6 references added, some clarifications included, changes in notation, no physics changes, matches published version. V2: 1 reference added. V1: 23 pages

Cosmological observations allow the possibility that dark energy is caused by phantom fields. These fields typically lead to the occurrence of singularities in the late Universe. We review here the status of phantom singularities and their possible avoidance in a quantum theory of gravity. We first introduce phantom energy and discuss its behavior in cosmology. We then list the various types of singularities that can occur from its presence. We also discuss the possibility that phantom behavior is mimicked by an alternative theory of gravity. We finally address the quantum cosmology of these models and discuss in which sense the phantom singularities can be avoided., Comment: Invited Report. V1: 27 pages, 1 figure. V2: 2 references added, "note added in proof" added

We consider a non-static evolving version of the regular "black-bounce"/traversable wormhole geometry recently introduced in JCAP02(2019)042 [arXiv:1812.07114 [gr-qc]]. We first re-write the static metric using Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates, and then allow the mass parameter $m$ to depend on the null time coordinate (a la Vaidya). The spacetime metric is \[ ds^{2}=-\left(1-\frac{2m(w)}{\sqrt{r^{2}+a^{2}}}\right)dw^{2}-(\pm 2 \,dw \,dr) +\left(r^{2}+a^{2}\right)\left(d\theta^{2}+\sin^{2}\theta \;d\phi^{2}\right). \] Here $w=\{u,v\}$ denotes the $\{outgoing,ingoing\}$ null time coordinate; representing $\{retarded,advanced\}$ time. This spacetime is still simple enough to be tractable, and neatly interpolates between Vaidya spacetime, a black-bounce, and a traversable wormhole. We show how this metric can be used to describe several physical situations of particular interest, including a growing black-bounce, a wormhole to black-bounce transition, and the opposite black-bounce to wormhole transition., Comment: V1: 27 pages; 5 Carter-Penrose diagrams. V2: Two references added. V3: 29 pages; closely matches published version

In this paper we investigate graviton-photon oscillation in the presence of an external magnetic field in alternative theories of gravity. Whereas the effect of an effective refractive index for the electromagnetic radiation was already considered in the literature, we develop the first approach to take into account the effect of the modification of the predictions for gravitational waves in alternative theories of gravity in the phenomenon of graviton-photon mixing., Comment: V1: 5 pages. V2: 9 pages (new style); clarifications in the discussion included, no physics changes; 3 references added. V3: 10 pages, 4 references added, discussion extended. Version accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravity

The type III (and the "essential core" type III$_0$) stress-energy tensors in the Hawking-Ellis (Segre-Plebanski) classification stand out in that there is to date no known source (either classical or semi-classical) leading to type III stress-energy. (In contrast the Hawking-Ells types I and II occur classically, and type IV is known to occur semi-classically). We instead start by asking the obverse question: What sort of spacetime (assuming the Einstein equations) needs a type III stress-energy to support it? One key observation is that type III is incompatible with either planar or spherical symmetry, so one should be looking at spacetimes of low symmetry (or no symmetry). Finding such a type III spacetime is a matter of somehow finding an appropriate ansatz for the metric, calculating the Einstein tensor, and analyzing the pattern of (Lorentz invariant) eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Herein we report some (partial) success along these lines - we explicitly exhibit several (somewhat unnatural) spacetime geometries with a type III Einstein tensor. We then build an explicit but somewhat odd Lagrangian model leading (in Minkowski space) to type III stress-energy. While we still have no fully acceptable general physical model for type III stress-energy, we can at least say something about what such a stress-energy tensor would entail., Comment: 22 pages, 1 figure

The era of high precision Cosmology has shown our ignorance about the composition of the Universe. In this context, there has been a renewed interest on Alternative Theories of Gravity. Through the experience of a graviton measured by the LIGO collaboration, we shall understand the conceptual framework of those theories. They provide us with a theoretical construction where we can contrast the predictions of General Relativity and a possible scenario to describe the accelerated expansion of our Universe without assuming the existence of dark components. During the dawn of gravitational wave astronomy, gravitation is already promising to be one of the most fascinating fields of research of the XXI century., Comment: 4 pages. In Spanish. This is an invited contribution to be published in the Spanish Journal of Physics (Royal Spanish Physics Society)

In this letter we reflect on the propagation of gravitational waves in alternative theories of gravity, which are typically formulated using extra gravitational degrees of freedom in comparison to General Relativity. We propose to understand that additional structure as forming a diagravitational medium for gravitational waves characterized by a refractive index. Furthermore, we shall argue that the most general diagravitational medium has associated an anisotropic dispersion relation. In some situations a refractive index tensor, which takes into account both the deflection of gravitational waves due to the curvature of a non-flat spacetime and the modifications of the general relativistic predictions, can be defined. The most general media, however, entail the consideration of at least two independent tensors., Comment: V1: 5 pages. Comments welcome. V2: 4 references added. V3: additional comments included, 4 references added. Version accepted for publication in Physics Letters B

Extended theories of gravity have gathered a lot of attention over the last years, for they not only provide an excellent framework to describe the inflationary era but also yields an alternative to the elusive and mysterious dark energy. Among the different extended theories of gravity, on this work we focus on metric $f(R)$ theories. In addition, it is well known that if the late-time acceleration of the universe is stronger than the one induced by a cosmological constant then some future cosmic singularities might arise, being the Big Rip the most virulent one. Following this reasoning, on this work, we analyse the Big Rip singularity in the framework of $f(R)$ quantum geometrodynamics. Invoking the DeWitt criterium, i. e. that the wave function vanishes at the classical singularity, we proof that a class of solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation fulfilling this condition can be found. Therefore, this result hints towards the avoidance of the Big Rip in metric $f(R)$ theories of gravity., Comment: V1:13 pages. Dedicated to the memory of Prof. Pedro F. Gonzalez-Diaz (our former PhD supervisor). V2: 9 pages (new style), minor clarifications included, no physics changes, 6 references added. Version accepted for publication in Physical Review D

The Hawking-Ellis (Segre-Plebanski) classification of possible stress-energy tensors is an essential tool in analyzing the implications of the Einstein field equations in a more-or-less model-independent manner. In the current article the basic idea is to simplify the Hawking-Ellis type I, II, III, and IV classification by isolating the "essential core" of the type II, type III, and type IV stress-energy tensors; this being done by subtracting (special cases of) type I to simplify the (Lorentz invariant) eigenvalue structure as much as possible without disturbing the eigenvector structure. We will denote these "simplified cores" type II$_0$, type III$_0$, and type IV$_0$. These "simplified cores" have very nice and simple algebraic properties. Furthermore, types I and II$_0$ have very simple classical interpretations, while type IV$_0$ is known to arise semi-classically (in renormalized expectation values of standard stress-energy tensors). In contrast type III$_0$ stands out in that it has neither a simple classical interpretation, nor even a simple semi-classical interpretation. We will also consider the robustness of this classification considering the stability of the different Hawking-Ellis types under perturbations. We argue that types II and III are definitively unstable, whereas types I and IV are stable., Comment: V1: 18 pages; V2: reformatted, now 14 pages; some clarifications added; no significant physics changes. This version accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravity

The (generalized) Rainich conditions are algebraic conditions which are polynomial in the (mixed-component) stress-energy tensor. As such they are logically distinct from the usual classical energy conditions (NEC, WEC, SEC, DEC), and logically distinct from the usual Hawking-Ellis (Segr\'e-Pleba\'nski) classification of stress-energy tensors (type I, type II, type III, type IV). There will of course be significant inter-connections between these classification schemes, which we explore in the current article. Overall, we shall argue that it is best to view the (generalized) Rainich conditions as a refinement of the classical energy conditions and the usual Hawking-Ellis classification., Comment: V1: 20 pages. V2: Matches published version, now 18 pages (new format), minor clarifications added

Assuming both that our Universe is evolving into a de Sitter space and a vanishing cosmological constant, leaves only the option that the observed acceleration is provided by a "kinetic" energy of a scalar field. From an effective field theory point of view, the absence of Ostrogradsky instabilities restricts the choice to shift-symmetric Horndeski theories. Within these theories, we find the conditions for the existence of a de Sitter critical point in a universe filled by matter, radiation and a Horndeski scalar. Moreover, we show that this point is a universal attractor and we provide the tracking trajectory. Therefore, if a de Sitter fixed point exists within these models, our Universe will eventually evolve into a de Sitter space. As an example, we have discussed the case of the combined Galileon-Slotheon system, in which the Galileon is kinetically non-minimal coupled to the Einstein tensor. Interestingly, we have also found that the tracker trajectory of this system does not follow previous literature assumptions., Comment: 14 pages, v2: comment on frames added. Conclusions unchanged, version accepted for publication in Physics of the Dark Universe

We revisit the definition and some of the characteristics of quadratic theories of gravity with torsion. We start from the most general Lagrangian density quadratic in the curvature and torsion tensors. By assuming that General Relativity should be recovered when torsion vanishes and investigating the behaviour of the vector and pseudovector torsion fields in the weak-gravity regime, we present a set of necessary conditions for the stability of these theories. Moreover, we explicitly obtain the gravitational field equations using the Palatini variational principle with the metricity condition implemented via a Lagrange multiplier., Comment: A missing -1 factor in the pseudo-vectorial sector has been detected in Appendix D, conclusions partially changed in sections 3.3 and 4

We review the most general scalar-tensor cosmological models with up to second-order derivatives in the field equations that have a fixed spatially flat de Sitter critical point independent of the material content or vacuum energy. This subclass of the Horndeski Lagrangian is capable of dynamically adjusting any value of the vacuum energy of the matter fields at the critical point. We present the cosmological evolution of the linear models and the non-linear models with shift symmetry. We come to the conclusion that the shift symmetric non-linear models can deliver a viable background compatible with current observations., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. Proceedings accepted for publication in "Universe", Special Issue "Varying Constants and Fundamental Cosmology" for the VARCOSMOFUN16 in Szczecin, Poland, 12-17 September, 2016

The standard energy conditions of classical general relativity are (mostly) linear in the stress-energy tensor, and have clear physical interpretations in terms of geodesic focussing, but suffer the significant drawback that they are often violated by semi-classical quantum effects. In contrast, it is possible to develop non-standard energy conditions that are intrinsically non-linear in the stress-energy tensor, and which exhibit much better well-controlled behaviour when semi-classical quantum effects are introduced, at the cost of a less direct applicability to geodesic focussing. In this article we will first review the standard energy conditions and their various limitations. (Including the connection to the Hawking--Ellis type I, II, III, and IV classification of stress-energy tensors). We shall then turn to the averaged, nonlinear, and semi-classical energy conditions, and see how much can be done once semi-classical quantum effects are included., Comment: V1: 25 pages. Draft chapter, on which the related chapter of the book "Wormholes, Warp Drives and Energy Conditions" (to be published by Springer), will be based. V2: typos fixed. V3: small typo fixed

In bigravity, when taking into account the potential existence of matter fields minimally coupled to the second gravitation sector, the dynamics of our Universe depends on some matter that cannot be observed in a direct way. In this paper, we assume the existence of a Noether symmetry in bigravity cosmologies in order to constrain the dynamics of that matter. By imposing this assumption we obtain cosmological models with interesting phenomenology. In fact, considering that our universe is filled with standard matter and radiation, we show that the existence of a Noether symmetry implies that either the dynamics of the second sector decouples, being the model equivalent to General Relativity, or the cosmological evolution of our universe tends to a de Sitter state with the vacuum energy in it given by the conserved quantity associated with the symmetry. The physical consequences of the genuine bigravity models obtained are briefly discussed. We also point out that the first model, which is equivalent to General Relativity, may be favored due to the potential appearance of instabilities in the second model., Comment: V1: 23 pages. V2: 7 references added. V3: clarifications in the discussion; no physics changes; 5 references added; 16 pages. V4: minor changes; 1 reference added. This version accepted for publication in General Relativity and Gravitation

We study cosmological implications of bigravity and massive gravity solutions with non-simultaneously diagonal metrics by considering the generalized Gordon and Kerr-Schild ansatzes. The scenario that we obtain is equivalent to that of General Relativity with additional non-comoving perfect fluids. We show that the most general ghost-free bimetric theory generates three kinds of effective fluids whose equations of state are fixed by a function of the ansatz. Different choices of such function allow to reproduce the behaviour of different dark fluids. In particular, the Gordon ansatz is suitable for the description of various kinds of slowly-moving fluids, whereas the Kerr-Schild one is shown to describe a null dark energy component. The motion of those dark fluids with respect to the CMB is shown to generate, in turn, a relative motion of baryonic matter with respect to radition which contributes to the CMB anisotropies. CMB dipole observations are able to set stringent limits on the dark sector described by the effective bimetric fluid., Comment: V1: 26 pages, 20 figures. V2: 28 pages, 5 new references added, some minor clarifications added. This version accepted for publication in JCAP

We explore the dynamics and evolution of the Universe at early and late times, focusing on both dark energy and extended gravity models and their astrophysical and cosmological consequences. Modified theories of gravity not only provide an alternative explanation for the recent expansion history of the universe, but they also offer a paradigm fundamentally distinct from the simplest dark energy models of cosmic acceleration. In this review, we perform a detailed theoretical and phenomenological analysis of different modified gravity models and investigate their consistency. We also consider the cosmological implications of well motivated physical models of the early universe with a particular emphasis on inflation and topological defects. Astrophysical and cosmological tests over a wide range of scales, from the solar system to the observable horizon, severely restrict the allowed models of the Universe. Here, we review several observational probes -- including gravitational lensing, galaxy clusters, cosmic microwave background temperature and polarization, supernova and baryon acoustic oscillations measurements -- and their relevance in constraining our cosmological description of the Universe., Comment: 94 pages, 14 figures. Review paper accepted for publication in a Special Issue of Symmetry. "Symmetry: Feature Papers 2016". V2: Matches published version, now 79 pages (new format)

A novel framework is presented that can be adapted to a wide class of generic spherically symmetric thin-shell wormholes. By using the Darmois--Israel formalism, we analyze the stability of arbitrary spherically symmetric thin-shell wormholes to linearized perturbations around static solutions. We demonstrate in full generality that the stability of the wormhole is equivalent to choosing suitable properties for the exotic material residing on the wormhole throat. As an application, we consider the thin-shell variant of the Ellis wormhole for the cases of a vanishing momentum flux and non-zero external fluxes., Comment: 6 pages; contribution to the proceedings of the "The Fourteenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting on General Relativity", University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, July 12-18, 2015, based on an invited talk delivered at the BH4-"Gravitational fields with sources: From compact objects to black holes" parallel session. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1512.07659

We develop an extremely general and robust framework that can be adapted to wide classes of generic spherically symmetric thin-shell gravastars. The thin shell (transition layer) will be permitted to move freely in the bulk spacetimes, permitting a fully dynamic analysis. This will then allow us to perform a general stability analysis, where it is explicitly shown that stability of the gravastar is related to the properties of the matter residing in the thin-shell transition layer., Comment: 6 pages; contribution to the proceedings of the "The Fourteenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting on General Relativity", University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, July 12-18, 2015, based on an invited talk delivered at the BS1-"Black Hole foils, Boson stars" parallel session

Horndeski models with a de Sitter critical point for any kind of material content may provide a mechanism to alleviate the cosmological constant problem. We study the cosmological evolution of two classes of families - the linear models and the non-linear models with shift symmetry. We conclude that the latter models can deliver a background dynamics compatible with the latest observational data., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. Contribution to the proceedings of "The Fourtheenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting on General Relativity", University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, July 12-18, 2015, based on a talk delivered at the DE1 parallel session

We consider the characteristics of nonlinear energy conditions and of quantum extensions of these and the usual energy conditions. We show that they are satisfied by some quantum vacuum states that violate the usual energy conditions., Comment: 6 pages; contribution to the proceedings of "The Fourtheenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting on General Relativity", University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, July 12-18, 2015, based on a talk delivered at the AT3 parallel session

We analyse the quantum behaviour of the "Little Sibling" of the Big Rip singularity (LSBR) [1]. The quantisation is carried within the geometrodynamical approach given by the Wheeler--DeWitt (WDW) equation. The classical model is based on a Friedmann--Lema\^{i}tre--Robertson--Walker Universe filled by a perfect fluid that can be mapped to a scalar field with phantom character. We analyse the WDW equation in two setups. In the first step, we consider the scale factor as the single degree of freedom, which from a classical perspective parametrises both the geometry and the matter content given by the perfect fluid. We then solve the WDW equation within a WKB approximation, for two factor ordering choices. On the second approach, we consider the WDW equation with two degrees of freedom: the scale factor and a scalar field. We solve the WDW equation, with the Laplace--Beltrami factor-ordering, using a Born--Oppenheimer approximation. In both approaches, we impose the DeWitt (DW) condition as a potential criterion for singularity avoidance. We conclude that in all the cases analysed the DW condition can be verified, which might be an indication that the LSBR can be avoided or smoothed in the quantum approach., Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, RevTex4-1

In the context of Horndeski cosmologies, we consider a dynamical adjustment mechanism able to screen any value of the vacuum energy of the matter fields leading to a fixed de Sitter geometry. Thus, we present the most general scalar-tensor cosmological models without higher than second order derivatives in the field equation that have a fixed spatially flat de Sitter critical point for any kind of material content or vacuum energy. These models allow us to understand the current accelerated expansion of the universe as the result of the evolution towards the critical point when it is an attractor., Comment: 6 pages; contribution to the proceedings of "The Fourtheenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting on General Relativity", University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, July 12-18, 2015, based on a talk delivered at the AT1 parallel session

Horndeski models with a de Sitter critical point for any kind of material content may provide a mechanism to alleviate the cosmological constant problem. Moreover, they could allow us to understand the current accelerated expansion of the universe as the result of the dynamical approach to the critical point when it is an attractor. We show that this critical point is indeed an attractor for the shift- symmetric subfamily of models with these characteristics. We study the cosmological scenario that results when considering radiation and matter content, and conclude that their background dynamics is compatible with the latest observational data., Comment: V1: 20 pages, 11 figures. V2: 1 reference added. V3: 21 pages. Clarifications in the discussion; no physics changes. This version accepted for publication in JCAP

In this essay we propose that the theory of gravity's vacuum is described by a de Sitter geometry. Under this assumption we consider an adjustment mechanism able to screen any value of the vacuum energy of the matter fields. We discuss the most general scalar-tensor cosmological models with second order equations of motion that have a fixed de Sitter critical point for any kind of material content. These models give rise to interesting cosmological evolutions that we shall discuss., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. Essay awarded honorable mention in the Gravity Research Foundation essay competition 2015

We consider Horndeski cosmological models, with a minisuperspace Lagrangian linear in the field derivative, that are able to screen any vacuum energy and material content leading to a spatially flat de Sitter vacuum fixed by the theory itself. Furthermore, we investigate particular models with a cosmic evolution independent of the material content and use them to understand the general characteristics of this framework. We also consider more realistic models, which we denote the "term-by-term" and "tripod" models, focusing attention on cases in which the critical point is indeed an attractor solution and the cosmological history is of particular interest., Comment: V1: 25 pages, 14 figures. V2: 5 references added, minor clarifications added. This version accepted for publication in JCAP

We consider Horndeski cosmological models able to screen the vacuum energy coming from any field theory assuming that after this screening the space should be in a de Sitter vacuum with a particular value of the cosmological constant specified by the theory of gravity itself. The most general scalar-tensor cosmological models without higher than second order derivatives in the field equations that have a spatially flat de Sitter critical point for any kind of material content or vacuum energy are, therefore, presented. These models could allow us to understand the current accelerated expansion of the universe as the result of a dynamical evolution towards a de Sitter attractor., Comment: V1: 5 pages. V2: 8 pages; 5 references added; 2 new appendixes; clarifications in the discussion; no physics changes. This version accepted for publication in Physical Review D

We consider the nonlinear energy conditions and their quantum extensions. These new energy conditions behave much better than the usual pointwise energy conditions in the presence of semiclassical quantum effects. Analogous quantum extensions for the linear energy conditions are not always satisfied as one enters the quantum realm, but they can be used to constrain the violation of the classical conditions. Thus, the existence of wormholes supported by a fluid which violates the null energy condition in a controlled way is of particular interest., Comment: 6 pages; contribution to the proceedings of the Spanish Relativity Meeting 2014 (ERE 2014), Valencia, 1-5 September 2014

We consider novel wormhole solutions supported by a matter content that minimally violates the null energy condition. More specifically, we consider an equation of state in which the sum of the energy density and radial pressure is proportional to a constant with a value smaller than that of the inverse area characterising the system, i.e., the area of the wormhole mouth. This approach is motivated by a recently proposed cosmological event, denoted "the little sibling of the big rip", where the Hubble rate and the scale factor blow up but the cosmic derivative of the Hubble rate does not [1]. By using the cut-and-paste approach, we match interior spherically symmetric wormhole solutions to an exterior Schwarzschild geometry, and analyze the stability of the thin-shell to linearized spherically symmetric perturbations around static solutions, by choosing suitable properties for the exotic material residing on the junction interface radius. Furthermore, we also consider an inhomogeneous generalisation of the equation of state considered above and analyse the respective stability regions. In particular, we obtain a specific wormhole solution with an asymptotic behaviour corresponding to a global monopole., Comment: V1: 24 pages, 7 figures. V2: 26 pages, 7 figures. References added, some discussion added, a typo fixed. This version accepted for publication in JCAP

We present a new cosmological event, which we named the little sibling of the big rip. This event is much smoother than the big rip singularity. When the little sibling of the big rip is reached, the Hubble rate and the scale factor blow up but the cosmic derivative of the Hubble rate does not. This abrupt event takes place at an infinite cosmic time where the scalar curvature explodes. We show that a doomsday \'a la little sibling of the big rip is compatible with an accelerating universe, indeed at present it would mimic perfectly a LCDM scenario. It turns out that eventhough the event seems to be harmless as it takes place in the infinite future, the bound structures in the universe would be unavoidably destroyed on a finite cosmic time from now. The model can be motivated by considering that the weak energy condition should not be abusibely violated in our Universe, and it could give us some hints about the status of recently formulated nonlinear energy conditions., Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, clarifications included

We present and develop several nonlinear energy conditions suitable for use in the semiclassical regime. In particular, we consider the recently formulated "flux energy condition" (FEC), and the novel "trace-of-square" (TOSEC) and "determinant" (DETEC) energy conditions. As we shall show, these nonlinear energy conditions behave much better than the classical linear energy conditions in the presence of semiclassical quantum effects. Moreover, whereas the quantum extensions of these nonlinear energy conditions seem to be quite widely satisfied as one enters the quantum realm, analogous quantum extensions are generally not useful for the linear classical energy conditions., Comment: V1: 42 pages, 6 figures. V2: 43 pages, 6 figures. Title changed, some discussion added, 3 references added, some typos fixed. V3: Minor edits. Published version