Cosmological solutions in the Brans–Dicke theory via invariants of symmetry groups

Abstract

We proceed to obtain an exact analytical solution of the Brans–Dicke (BD) equations for the spatially flat ($k=0$) Friedmann–Lamaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) cosmological model in both cases of the absence and presence of the cosmological constant. The solution method that we use to solve the field equations of the BD equations is called the “invariants of symmetry groups method” (ISG method). This method is based on the extended Prelle–Singer (PS) method and it employs the Lie point symmetries, $\lambda$-symmetries, and Darboux polynomials (DPs). Indeed, the ISG method tries to provide two independent first-order invariants associated to the one-parameter Lie groups of transformations keeping the ordinary differential equations (ODEs) invariant, as solutions. It should be noted for integrable ODEs that the ISG method guarantees the extraction of these two invariants. In this work, for the BD equations in FLRW cosmological model, we find the Lie point symmetries, $\lambda$-symmetries, and DPs, and obtain the basic quantities of the extended PS method (which are the null forms and the integrating factors). By making use of the extended PS method we find two independent first-order invariants in such a way that appropriate cosmological solutions from solving these invariants as a system of algebraic equations are simultaneously obtained. These solutions are wealthy in that they include many known special solutions, such as the O’Hanlon–Tupper vacuum solutions, Nariai’s solutions, Brans–Dicke dust solutions, inflationary solutions, etc.