Viability of Noether symmetry of F(R) theory of gravity
  Canonization of F(R) theory of gravity to explore Noether symmetry is
performed treating R - 6(\frac{\ddot a}{a} + \frac{\dot a^2}{a^2} +
\frac{k}{a^2}) = 0 as a constraint of the theory in Robertson-Walker
space-time, which implies that R is taken as an auxiliary variable. Although it
yields correct field equations, Noether symmetry does not allow linear term in
the action, and as such does not produce a viable cosmological model. Here, we
show that this technique of exploring Noether symmetry does not allow even a
non-linear form of F(R), if the configuration space is enlarged by including a
scalar field in addition, or taking anisotropic models into account.
Surprisingly enough, it does not reproduce the symmetry that already exists in
the literature (A. K. Sanyal, B. Modak, C. Rubano and E. Piedipalumbo,
Gen.Relativ.Grav.37, 407 (2005), arXiv:astro-ph/0310610) for scalar tensor
theory of gravity in the presence of R^2 term. Thus, R can not be treated as an
auxiliary variable and hence Noether symmetry of arbitrary form of F(R) theory
of gravity remains obscure. However, there exists in general, a conserved
current for F(R) theory of gravity in the presence of a non-minimally coupled
scalar-tensor theory (A. K. Sanyal, Phys.Lett.B624, 81 (2005),
arXiv:hep-th/0504021 and Mod.Phys.Lett.A25, 2667 (2010), arXiv:0910.2385
[astro-ph.CO]). Here, we briefly expatiate the non-Noether conserved current
and cite an example to reveal its importance in finding cosmological solution
for such an action, taking F(R) \propto R^{3/2}.
