Graviton mass, quintessence, and oscillatory character of Universe evolution

Abstract

On the basis of the field relativistic theory of gravity, an upper limit on the graviton mass, m g≤1.6×10−66 g, is obtained at a 95% C.L. by using data on the density parameter Ωtot. Within one standard deviation, the probable value of the graviton mass is m g=1.3×10−66 g. It is indicated that, according to the relativistic theory of gravity, the existence of quintessence is needed for explaining the accelerated expansion of the Universe. Experimental data on the age of the Universe and on the density of cold matter make it possible to determine the allowed interval of the parameter ν that enters into the equation of state for the quintessence and to indicate the instants of time that correspond to the beginning and cessation of the era of accelerated expansion, as well as the maximum-expansion time, which corresponds to the half-period of the oscillatory evolution of the Universe.