Kinematics and dynamics of \(f(R)\) theories of gravity (Q1911045)

We generalise the equations governing relativistic fluid dynamics to generalised \(f(R)\) theories of gravity. In particular, we show that within the framework of general \(f(R)\) theories, a perfect fluid spacetime with vanishing vorticity, shear and acceleration is Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker only if the fluid has in addition a barotropic equation of state. It then follows that the Ehlers-Geren-Sachs theorem and its ``almost'' extension also hold for \(f(R)\) theories of gravity.