Equivalence between Scalar-Tensor theories and $f(R)$-gravity: From the action to Cosmological Perturbations

Abstract: In this paper we calculate the field equations for Scalar-Tensor from a variational principle, in which we have taken into account the Gibbons-York-Hawking type boundary term. We do the same for the theories $f(R)$, following, Guarnizo et al. Then, we review the equivalences between both theories in the metric formalism. Thus, starting from the perturbations under conformal-Newtonian gauge for Scalar-Tensor theories, we find the perturbations for $f(R)$ gravity under the equivalences in the same gauge. Working with two specific models of $f(R)$, we explore the equivalences between the theories. Further, we show the perturbations for both theories under the sub-horizon approach. Finally, we show how to calculate the cosmological perturbations using the package xPand.