Quartic Horndeski-Cartan theories in a FLRW universe

Abstract

We consider the Quartic Horndeski theory with torsion on a FLRW background in the second order formalism. We show that there is a one parameter family of Quartic Horndeski Cartan Lagrangians and all such theories only modify the dispersion relations of the graviton and the scalar perturbation that are usually found in the standard Horndeski theory on a torsionless spacetime. In other words, for the theories in this class torsion does not induce new degrees of freedom but it only modifies the propagation. This holds for first order perturbations in spite of a kinetic mixing between the Horndeski scalar with the torsion field in the action. We also show that for most Lagrangians within the family of Quartic Horndeski Cartan theories the dispersion relation of the scalar mode is radically modified. We find only one theory within the family whose scalar mode has a regular wave-like dispersion relation.

arXiv comment25 pages, 3 figures. Matches version published in PRD. Expanded discussions, references added, results unchanged

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