Bouncing cosmology in $f(R,\mathcal{G})$ gravity by order reduction

Understand

A bouncing universe is a viable candidate to solve the initial singularity problem.

• Here we consider bouncing solutions in the context of $f(R,\mathcal{G})$ gravity by using an order reduction technique which allows one to find solutions that are perturbatively close to General Relativity.
• This procedure also acts as a model selection approach.
• Indeed, several covariant gravitational actions leading to a bounce are directly selected by demanding that the Friedmann equation derived within such gravity theories coincides with the one emerging from Loop Quantum Cosmology.