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FLRW solutions in $f(Q)$ theory: the effect of using different connections

We study a Friedmann-Lema\^ıtre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) space-time in the theory of $f(Q)$-gravity, where $Q$ denotes the non-metricity scalar. It has been previously shown in the literature, that there exist four distinct families of connections, which are compatible with the isometries of the FLRW metric; three for the spatially flat case and one when the spatial curvature is present. In the spatially flat case, one connection is dynamically irrelevant and yields the dynamics of the coincident gauge in the Cartesian coordinates. For this, we obtain the general solution of an arbitrary $f(Q)$ theory with a perfect fluid matter content, and present various examples for specific choices of the $f(Q)$ function. We proceed by studying the effect of the rest of the connections, which are dynamical and affect the equations of the motion. We concentrate in scenarios that depart from the $Q=$const. case, which just reproduces General Relativity with a cosmological constant, and derive novel vacuum solutions for a power-law $f(Q)$ function.