New effective coupled $F(^{(4)}\!R,\varphi)$ modified gravity from $f(^{(5)}\!R)$ gravity in five dimensions

Abstract

We obtain a new kind of $F(^{(4)}\!R,\varphi)$ modified gravity theory as an effective four-dimensional (4D) theory derived from $f(^{(5)}\!R)$ gravity in five dimensions (5D). This new theory exhibits a different matter coupling than the one in BBHL theory. We show that the field equations of the Wesson's induced matter theory and of some braneworld scenarios can be obtained as maximally symmetric solutions of the $f(^{(5)}\!R)$ theory. We found criteria for the Goldov-Kawasaki instabilities for both the $f(^{(5)}\!R)$ and the $F(^{(4)}\!R,\varphi)$ theories. We demonstrate that under certain conditions imposed on the 5D geometry it is possible to interpret the $F(^{(4)}\!R,\varphi)$ theory as a modified gravity theory with dynamical coefficients, making this new theory a viable candidate to address the present accelerating cosmic expansion issue.