Testing a nonlinear solution of the Israel-Stewart theory

Abstract: In this work, we test the capability of an exact solution found in the framework of a nonlinear extension of the Israel-Stewart theory to fit the supernovae Ia, gravitational lensing, and black hole shadow data. This exact solution is a generalization of one previously found for a dissipative unified dark matter model in the context of the near-equilibrium description of dissipative processes, where we do not have the full regime of the nonlinear picture. This generalized solution is restricted to the case where a positive entropy production is guaranteed and is tested under the condition that ensures its causality, local existence, and uniqueness. From the observational constraints, we found that this generalized solution is a good candidate in the description of the observational late-time data used in this work, with best-fit values $H_{0}=73.2_{-0.9}^{+0.8}\,\frac{km/s}{Mpc}$, $q_{0}=-0.41_{-0.03}^{+0.03}$, $\hat{\xi}{0}=0.88{-0.17}^{+0.09}$, $\epsilon=0.34_{-0.04}^{+0.03}$, and $k=0.27_{-0.20}^{+0.37}$. Therefore, we show that the nonlinear regime of the Israel-Stewart theory consistently describes the recent accelerated expansion of the universe without the inclusion of some kind of dark energy component and also provides a more realistic description of the fluids that make up the late Universe.