The conformal cosmological potential

Abstract

We discuss qualitative features of the conformal relation between certain classes of gravity theories and general relativity, common to different themes such as $f(R)$, Brans-Dicke-type, and string theories. We focus primarily on the frame relations of the fields involved, slice energy, traceless and Palatini extensions, and selected cosmological applications.

v2: 39 pages, more references added, matches version to appear in the inaugural issue of new mdpi journal `Astronomy'