Tomo Takahashi

By studying a modified Friedmann equation which arises in an extension of general relativity which accommodates a time-dependent fundamental length $L(t)$, we consider cosmological models where the scale factor diverges with an essential singularity at a finite future time. Such models have no dark energy in the conventional sense of energy possessing a truly simple pressure-energy relationship. Data on supernovae restrict the time from the present until the Rip to be generically longer than the current age of the Universe.

By studying the present cosmological data, particularly on CMB, SNeIA and LSS, we find that the future fate of the universe, for simple linear models of the dark energy equation-of-state, can vary between the extremes of (I) a divergence of the scale factor in as little as 7 Gyr; (II) an infinite lifetime of the universe with dark energy dominant for all future time; (III) a disappearing dark energy where the universe asymptotes as $t \to \infty$ to $a(t) \sim t^{2/3}$ {\it i.e.} matter domination. Our dreadful conclusion is that no amount of data from our past light-cone can select between these future scenarios.