$1/R$ curvature corrections as the source of the cosmological acceleration

Corrections to Einstein’s equations that become important at small curvatures are considered. The field equations are derived using a Palatini variation in which the connection and metric are varied independently. In contrast with the Einstein-Hilbert variation, which yields fourth order equations, the Palatini approach produces second order equations in the metric. The Lagrangian $L\left(R\right)=R-{\alpha }^2/R$ is examined and it is shown that it leads to equations whose solutions approach a de Sitter universe at late times. Thus, the inclusion of $1/R$ curvature terms in the gravitational action offers an alternative explanation for the cosmological acceleration.