Constraining f (R) theories with the energy conditions

A new method to constrain gravitational theories depending on the Ricci scalar is presented. It is based on the weak energy condition and yields limits on the parameters of a given theory through the current values of the derivatives of the scale factor of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker geometry. A further constraint depending on the current value of the snap is also given. Actual constraints (and the corresponding error propagation analysis) are calculated for two examples, which show that the method is useful in limiting the possible f (R) theories.