- Open Access
Revisiting the matter creation process: Observational constraints on gravitationally induced dark energy and the Hubble tension
Phys. Rev. D 113, 123552 – Published 26 June, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/bqwg-ff57
Abstract
The Hubble tension and the unknown origin of dark energy motivate the exploration of alternative mechanisms for late-time cosmic acceleration. We investigate gravitationally induced particle creation (PC) as a nonequilibrium process that can effectively mimic dynamical dark energy. Within the thermodynamic framework of open systems, we adopt an agnostic approach to the extra created component, leaving its equation-of-state parameter free. We consider four phenomenological parametrizations of the PC rate, allowing deviations from the standard cosmological model () only at late times (). The PC models are constrained using a joint analysis of cosmic chronometers, Type Ia supernovae, local measurements, baryon acoustic oscillations, and cosmic microwave background data. The constraints on are consistent with dark energy, while particle creation of pressureless matter is disfavored. All PC scenarios provide fits comparable to , with one showing effective dynamical dark-energy behavior. When early- and late-time datasets are analyzed separately, the PC models reduce the Hubble tension to , compared to in . Gravitationally induced dark energy thus offers a consistent late-time extension of and a viable theoretical framework for dynamical dark energy.
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