The evidence of the acceleration of universe at present time has led to investigate modified theories of gravity and alternative theories of gravity, which are able to explain acceleration from a theoretical viewpoint without the need of introducing dark energy. In this paper we study alternative gravitational theories defined by Lagrangians which depend on general functions of the Ricci scalar invariant in minimal interaction with matter, in view of their possible cosmological applications. Structural equations for the spacetimes described by such theories are solved and the corresponding field equations are investigated in the Palatini formalism, which prevents instability problems. Particular examples of these theories are also shown to provide, under suitable hypotheses, a coherent theoretical explanation of earlier results concerning the present acceleration of the universe and cosmological inflation. We suggest moreover a new possible Lagrangian, depending on the inverse of $\sinh \mathrm{}\left(R\right),$ which gives an explanation to the present acceleration of the universe.

• Received 6 April 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.70.043524