In this work, we shall incorporate a stiff era in the Universe’s evolution in the context of $F(R)$ gravity. After deriving the vacuum $F(R)$ gravity, which may realize a stiff evolution, we combine the stiff $F(R)$ gravity with an $R^2$ model, and we construct a qualitative model for the inflationary and stiff era, with the latter commencing after the end of the inflationary era. We assume that the baryogenesis occurs during the stiff era, and we calculate the baryon to entropy ratio, which effectively constraints the functional form of the stiff $F(R)$ gravity. Further constraints on the stiff $F(R)$ gravity may come from the primordial gravitational waves, and particularly their scalar mode, which is characteristic of the $F(R)$ gravity theory. The stiff era presence does not contradict the standard cosmology era, namely, inflation, and the radiation-matter domination eras. Furthermore, we investigate which $F(R)$ gravity may realize a dust and stiff matter dominated Einstein-Hilbert evolution.

• Received 23 August 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.96.104059