Neupane

Dark Energy Constraints on Modified Gravities
Ishwaree Neupane (Canterbury University)

Extended theories of gravity involving higher-order curvature terms, or extra dimensions, have been modelled in the past to explain the observationally supported cosmological perturbations, in addition to the resolution of initial singularity and study of bouncing cosmologies. Such models often incorporate a dynamical scalar field coupled to Riemann curvature invariants of a Gauss-Bonnet form. In this talk, I offer discussions on about how to test such a modified scenario of gravity against cosmological and astrophysical observations, including the classical tests of gravity. I will motivate the discussion through insights of non-minimal scalar couplings, crossing of phantom divide and time-varying dark energy equation of state.