Cardassian expansion: dark energy density from modified Friedmann equations

The Cardassian universe is a proposed modification to the Friedmann equation in which the universe is flat, matter dominated, and accelerating. In the ordinary Friedmann equation, the right hand side is a linear function of the energy density, H-2 similar to rho. Here, instead, the right hand side of the Friedmann equation is a different function of the energy density, H-2 similar to g(rho). This function returns to ordinary Friedmann at early times, but drives acceleration of the universe at the current epoch. The only ingredients in this universe are matter and radiation: in particular, there is NO vacuum contribution. The new term required may arise, e.g., as a consequence of our observable universe living as a three-dimensional brane in a higher dimensional universe. A second possible interpretation of Cardassian expansion is developed, in which we treat the modified Friedman equations as due to a fluid, in which the energy density has new contributions with negative pressure (possibly due to dark matter with self-interactions). Predictions are shown for observational tests of generalized Cardassian models in future supernova surveys. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.