Cosmological models in R2 gravity with hybrid expansion law

Abstract

In this paper, evolution of a Friedmann–Robertson–Walker universe is studied in a higher derivative theory of gravity. The relativistic solutions admitting hybrid expansion law of the universe are explored here. Hybrid expansion law is a general form of scale factor from which one can recover both the power-law expansion and exponential expansion as a special case. The hybrid expansion law is interesting as it addresses the early deceleration phase and presents accelerating phase satisfactorily. It is found that an inflationary scenario with hybrid expansion law is permitted in the [Formula: see text] gravity fairly well. We consider universe filled with cosmic fluid that describes by an equation of state (EoS) parameter which varies with time. Consequently, we analyze the time variation of energy density parameter, cosmic pressure, equation of state parameter, deceleration parameter and jerk parameter in the cosmological model. The constraints of the model parameters imposed by the cosmological observational data set are determined. The present value of the deceleration parameter [Formula: see text], EoS parameter and the epoch at which the transition of decelerated phase to accelerated phase are estimated. In the higher derivative theory, we obtain some new and interesting cosmological solutions relevant for building cosmological models.