Kinematic and statistical inconsistencies of Hořava–Lifshitz cosmology

Abstract

Abstract We investigate the validity of a minimal cosmological model derived from the renormalizable Hořava action at low redshift scales by using different cosmological and statistical tests. Assuming pure attractive gravity, i.e., λ > 1 ∕ 3 in the Hořava action, we compare the Union 2.1 supernova type Ia data with the kinematics following from a model-independent approach. The two approaches, although compatible, lead to explicit cosmographic constraints on the free parameters of the Hořava action, which turn out to be in strong disagreement with the Λ CDM, w CDM and Chevallier–Polarski–Linder scenarios. To show this, we use standard diagnostic tools of regression models, namely the Akaike and the Bayesian Information Criteria. Using such model-independent statistical methods, we show that Hořava–Lifshitz cosmology differs from the standard dark energy scenarios, independently of the number of free parameters involved in the model. Since this result is valid at small redshift domains, it indicates the presence of inconsistencies in the minimal version of Hořava–Lifshitz cosmology even at the level of background cosmology.