Non-Metricity Corrections Approach to Alleviate $H _0$ Tension: The Logarithmic and Nonlinear $f(Q)$ Models

Abstract

The persistent discrepancy between early-time and late-Universe measurements of the Hubble constant commonly known as the $H_0$ tension remains one of the most pressing open questions in modern cosmology. In this work, we explore whether modifications to the gravitational sector, specifically within the framework of symmetric teleparallel gravity, can offer a viable pathway toward alleviating this tension. We consider two functional forms of $f(Q)$ gravity: a logarithmic model and a nonlinear saturation model, both of which introduce geometric corrections to the standard expansion history without invoking a cosmological constant. Constraining these models through a Bayesian MCMC analysis against a comprehensive suite of observational data, including cosmic chronometers, Type Ia supernova compilations (Pantheon, Pantheon$+$SH0ES, and DES SN5YR), and BAO measurements from SDSS and DESI, we find that both models remain statistically competitive with $Λ$CDM. The logarithmic model, in particular, consistently infers intermediate values of $H_0$ between the \textit{Planck} and SH0ES benchmarks across all dataset combinations, and carries lower AIC and BIC penalties, establishing it as the more promising candidate for partially easing the $H_0$ tension within a modified gravity framework.