Crossing of the phantom divide in modified gravity

Abstract

We reconstruct an explicit model of modified gravity in which a crossing of the phantom divide can be realized. It is shown that the (finite-time) Big Rip singularity appears in the model of modified gravity (i.e., in the so-called Jordan-frame), whereas that in the corresponding scalar field theory obtained through the conformal transformation (i.e., in the so-called Einstein frame) the singularity becomes the infinite-time one. Furthermore, we investigate the relations between the scalar field theories with realizing a crossing of the phantom divide and the corresponding modified gravitational theories by using the inverse conformal transformation. It is demonstrated that the scalar field theories describing the nonphantom phase (phantom one with the Big Rip) can be represented as the theories of real (complex) F(R) gravity through the inverse (complex) conformal transformation. We also study a viable model of modified gravity in which the transition from the de Sitter universe to the phantom phase can occur. In addition, we explore the stability for the obtained solutions of the crossing of the phantom divide under a quantum correction coming from conformal anomaly. © 2009 The American Physical Society.