New insights from GW170817 in the dynamical system analysis of Einstein Gauss–Bonnet gravity

Abstract

In this work, we explore the dynamical system phase space of Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet theory in the cosmological minisuperspace in the light of GW170817. This approach binds the main features of the theory through a system of autonomous differential equations, in the context of a flat Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker spacetime. We analyze the critical points that feature in this system to assess their stability criteria. The phase space of this form of scalar-tensor gravity is very rich due to the fourth-order contributions of the Gauss–Bonnet invariant together with the second order contribution of the scalar field together with their coupling dynamics. We find additional critical points as compared with previous works in the literature which may be important for understanding the larger evolution of standard background cosmology within this class of gravitational models.