We investigate the cosmological applications of scalar-tensor theories that arise effectively from the Lorentz fiber bundle of a Finsler-like geometry. We first show that the involved nonlinear connection induces a new scalar degree of freedom and eventually a scalar-tensor theory. Using both a holonomic and a nonholonomic basis, we show the appearance of an effective dark-energy sector, which additionally acquires an explicit interaction with the matter sector, arising purely from the internal structure of the theory. Applying the theory at late times, we find that we can obtain the thermal history of the Universe, namely the sequence of matter and dark-energy epochs, and moreover the effective dark-energy equation-of-state parameter can be quintessencelike, phantomlike, or experience the phantom-divide crossing during cosmological evolution. Furthermore, applying the scenario at early times, we see that one can acquire an exponential de Sitter solution as well as obtain an inflationary realization with the desired scale-factor evolution. These features arise purely from the intrinsic geometrical structure of Finsler-like geometry and reveal the capabilities of the construction.

• Received 1 August 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.100.124035