The Universe acceleration from the Unimodular gravity view point: Background and linear perturbations

With the goal of studying the cosmological constant (CC) problem, we present an exhaustive analysis of unimodular gravity as a possible candidate to resolve the CC origin and with this, the current Universe acceleration. In this theory, a correction constant (CC-like) in the field equations sources the late cosmic acceleration. This constant is related to a new parameter, z(ini), which is interpreted as the redshift of CC-like emergence. By comparing with the CC value obtained from Planck and Supernovaes measurements, it is possible to estimate z(ini) = 11.15(-0.02)(+0.01) and z(ini) = 11.43(-0.06)(+0.03) respectively, which is close to the reionization epoch. Moreover, we use the observational Hubble data (OHD), Type Ia Supernovae (SnIa), Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) and the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) distance data to constrain the UG cosmological parameters. A Joint analysis (OHD+SnIa+BAO+CMB), results in z(ini) = 11.47(-0.073)(+0.074) within 1 sigma confidence level consistent with our estimation from Planck and Supernovae measurements. We also include linear perturbations, starting with scalar and tensor perturbations and complementing with the perturbed Boltzmann equation for photons. We show that the 00 term in the UG field equations and the Boltzmann equation for photons contains corrections, meanwhile the other equations are similar as those obtained in standard cosmology. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.