A theory of type-II minimally modified gravity

We propose a modified gravity theory that propagates only two local gravitational degrees of freedom and that does not have an Einstein frame. According to the classification in JCAP 01 (2019) 017 [arXiv:1810.01047 [gr-qc]], this is a type-II minimally modified gravity theory. The theory is characterized by the gravitational constant $G_{\rm N}$ and a function $V(φ)$ of a non-dynamical auxiliary field $φ$ that plays the role of dark energy. Once one fixes a homogeneous and isotropic cosmological background, the form of $V(φ)$ is determined and the theory no longer possesses a free parameter or a free function, besides $G_{\rm N}$. For $V'(φ) = 0$ the theory reduces to general relativity (GR) with $G_N$ being the Newton's constant and $V=const.$ being the cosmological constant. For $V'(φ) \ne 0$, it is shown that gravity behaves differently from GR but that GR with $G_{\rm N}$ being the Newton's constant is recovered for weak gravity at distance and time scales sufficiently shorter than the scale associated with $V(φ)$. Therefore this theory provides the simplest framework of cosmology in which deviations from GR can be tested by observational data.