Scalar-tensor cosmologies and their late time evolution

We study the asymptotic behavior at late times of Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (uniform density) cosmological models within scalar-tensor theories of gravity. Particularly, we analyze the late time behavior in the present (matter dominated) epoch of the universe. The result of Damour and Nordtvedt that for a massless scalar in a flat cosmology the Universe evolves towards a state indistinguishable from general relativity is generalized. We first study a massless scalar field in an open universe. It is found that, while the universe tends to approach a state with less scalar contribution to gravity, the attractor mechanism is not effective enough to drive the theory towards a final state indistinguishable from general relativity. For the self-interacting case it is found that the scalar field potential dominates the late time behavior. In most cases this makes the attractor mechanism effective, thus resulting in a theory of gravity with vanishingly small scalar contribution even for an open universe. [S0556-2821(98)06022-6].