Revisiting the matter creation process: observational constraints on gravitationally induced dark energy and the Hubble tension

The Hubble tension and the unknown origin of dark energy motivate the exploration of alternative mechanisms for late-time cosmic acceleration. We investigate gravitationally induced particle creation (PC) as a nonequilibrium process that can effectively mimic dynamical dark energy. Within the thermodynamic framework of open systems, we adopt an agnostic approach to the extra created component, leaving its equation-of-state parameter wE free. We consider four phenomenological parametrizations of the PC rate, allowing deviations from the standard cosmological model (ΛCDM) only at late times (0 <z<3). The PC models are constrained using a joint analysis of cosmic chronometers, Type Ia supernovae, local H0 measurements, baryon acoustic oscillations, and cosmic microwave background data. The constraints on wE are consistent with dark energy, while particle creation of pressureless matter is disfavored. All PC scenarios provide fits comparable to ΛCDM, with one showing effective dynamical dark-energy behavior. When early- and late-time datasets are analyzed separately, the PC models reduce the Hubble tension to ≃2.4σ–3σ, compared to 4.3σ in ΛCDM. Gravitationally induced dark energy thus offers a consistent late-time extension of ΛCDM and a viable theoretical framework for dynamical dark energy.