Dynamics of f(R)-cosmologies containing Einstein static models

Abstract

We study the dynamics of homogeneous isotropic FRW cosmologies with positive spatial curvature in $f(R)$-gravity, paying special attention to the existence of Einstein static models and only study forms of $f(R)=R^n$ for which these static models have been shown to exist. We construct a compact state space and identify past and future attractors of the system and recover a previously discovered future attractor corresponding to an expanding accelerating model. We also discuss the existence of universes which have both a past and future bounce, a phenomenon which is absent in General Relativity.

14 pages, 6 figures