In-depth analysis of violations of the (strong) equivalence principle in scalarized Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theories

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Richarte, Martín G., Toniato, Júnior D.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866915530058760192
author Richarte, Martín G.
Toniato, Júnior D.
author_facet Richarte, Martín G.
Toniato, Júnior D.
contents We conducted a theoretical analysis of the violation of the equivalence principle within a broad class of scalar-Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theories that exhibit spontaneous scalarization. Beginning with the Jordan frame, we performed a conformal mapping to identify the equivalent model in the Einstein frame. This approach revealed that the Gauss-Bonnet coupling introduces a mixed term that links the Einstein tensor to the kinetic terms, along with an additional kinetic term associated with the box operator, echoing characteristics of Horndeski-like theories. Our findings confirm a violation of the weak equivalence principle, as the geodesic equation incorporates an extra term that, in the non-relativistic limit, leads to a modified Newtonian equation. This result was further corroborated using Eardley's methodology. We also examined the violation of the strong equivalence principle through the Nordtvedt effect within the framework of an extended parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism. We provide a concrete example of scalarized theories featuring extended PPN parameters that deviate from general relativity, comparing these results against observational constraints from the Cassini mission, the MESSENGER mission, and the Lunar Laser Ranging experiment. While the Cassini bounds remain the most stringent, the constraints on the Nordtvedt parameter offer significantly better restrictions on the parameter space than those derived from the precession rate of Mercury's perihelion.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_03983
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle In-depth analysis of violations of the (strong) equivalence principle in scalarized Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theories
Richarte, Martín G.
Toniato, Júnior D.
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
We conducted a theoretical analysis of the violation of the equivalence principle within a broad class of scalar-Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theories that exhibit spontaneous scalarization. Beginning with the Jordan frame, we performed a conformal mapping to identify the equivalent model in the Einstein frame. This approach revealed that the Gauss-Bonnet coupling introduces a mixed term that links the Einstein tensor to the kinetic terms, along with an additional kinetic term associated with the box operator, echoing characteristics of Horndeski-like theories. Our findings confirm a violation of the weak equivalence principle, as the geodesic equation incorporates an extra term that, in the non-relativistic limit, leads to a modified Newtonian equation. This result was further corroborated using Eardley's methodology. We also examined the violation of the strong equivalence principle through the Nordtvedt effect within the framework of an extended parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism. We provide a concrete example of scalarized theories featuring extended PPN parameters that deviate from general relativity, comparing these results against observational constraints from the Cassini mission, the MESSENGER mission, and the Lunar Laser Ranging experiment. While the Cassini bounds remain the most stringent, the constraints on the Nordtvedt parameter offer significantly better restrictions on the parameter space than those derived from the precession rate of Mercury's perihelion.
title In-depth analysis of violations of the (strong) equivalence principle in scalarized Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theories
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.03983