Cosmology of $f(R, \Box R)$ gravity

Abstract

Using dynamical system analysis, we explore the cosmology of theories of order up to eight order of the form $f(R, \Box R)$. The phase space of these cosmology reveals that higher-order terms can have a dramatic influence on the evolution of the cosmology, avoiding the onset of finite time singularities. We also confirm and extend some of results which were obtained in the past for this class of theories.