Ghost-free Gauss-Bonnet Theories of Gravity

Abstract

In this work we develop a theoretical framework for Gauss-Bonnet modified gravity theories, in which ghost modes can be eliminated at the equations of motion level. Particularly, after we present how the ghosts can occur at the level of equations of motion, we employ the Lagrange multipliers technique, and by means of constraints we are able to eliminate the ghost modes from Gauss-Bonnet theories of the form $f(\mathcal{G})$ and $F(R,\mathcal{G})$ types. Some cosmological realizations in the context of the ghost free $f(\mathcal{G})$ gravity are presented, by using the reconstruction technique we developed. Finally, we explore the modifications to the Newton law of gravity generated by the ghost-free $f(\mathcal{G})$ theory.