Accelerating Cosmologies with an Anisotropic Equation of State: Vector Fields, Modified Gravity and Astrophysical Constraints

We investigate cosmologies where the accelerated expansion of the Universe is driven by a field with an anisotropic equation of state. We model such scenarios within the Bianchi I framework, introducing two skewness parameters to quantify the deviation of pressure from isotropy. Several viable vector alternatives to the inflaton and quintessence scalar fields are found. We reconstruct a vector-Gauss-Bonnet model which generates the concordance model background expansion at late times and supports an inflationary epoch at high curvatures. We show general conditions for the existence of scaling solutions for spatial fields. In particular, a vector with an inverse power-law potential, even if minimally coupled, scales with the matter component. Asymmetric generalizations of a cosmological constant are presented also. The anisotropic expansion is then confronted with, in addition to the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies for which the main signature appears to be a quadrupole contribution, the redshift and angular distribution of the supernovae type Ia. We find that the two skewness parameters can be very well constrained. Within these bounds, the anisotropy can be beneficial as a potential explanation of various anomalous cosmological observations, especially in the CMB at the largest angles. We also consider the dynamics of linear perturbations in these models. The covariant approach is used to derive the general evolution equations for cosmological perturbations taking into account imperfect sources in an anisotropic background. The implications for the galaxy formation are then studied. These results might help to make contact between the observed anomalies in CMB and large scale structure and fundamental theories exhibiting Lorentz violation.