Traceless scalar tidal gravity: fixed lensing–to–dynamics ratio, luminal tensor waves, and acceleration screening

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Main Author: Vorel, Jan
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Published: Zenodo 2025
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author Vorel, Jan
author_facet Vorel, Jan
contents <p>We study a minimal modification of general relativity in which the trace equation is fixed to its general-relativistic form, while departures enter only through the traceless (tidal) sector via a scalar field. In the weak-field, quasi-static regime the two Newtonian-gauge potentials obey Poisson equations with fixed scalar coefficients, implying a parameter-independent relation between scalar-induced lensing and nonrelativistic dynamics. In any patch where the effective coupling is approximately constant, the scalar contribution to the Weyl (lensing) potential is exactly 3/4 of its contribution to the dynamical potential. On the luminal tensor branch, the principal part of the transverse–traceless wave equation is unchanged, so free gravitational waves propagate at the speed of light. We adopt a covariant acceleration-based screening ansatz, α→αeff(χ) = α/(1 + χn) with χ= a/ascr, which preserves the 3/4 imprint while suppressing slip in high-acceleration environments. Using the Cassini bound on the PPN parameter γPPN we obtain a sufficient Solar-System screening requirement αeff ≲10−4 and an operational screening-radius gate rscr,⊙ ≳100 AU, corresponding to ascr ≲6×10−7 m s−2. We propose a direct discriminator based on the excess lensing-to-dynamics ratio Rexcess ≡(Mlens−Mb)/(Mdyn−Mb) in galaxies and clusters, which approaches 3/4 when the scalar contribution dominates the excess and screening is weak.</p>
format Recurso digital
id zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_18053041
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publishDate 2025
publisher Zenodo
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spellingShingle Traceless scalar tidal gravity: fixed lensing–to–dynamics ratio, luminal tensor waves, and acceleration screening
Vorel, Jan
Modified gravity
general relativity
traceless stress / traceless modification
tidal gravity
gravitational slip
Weyl potential
gravitational lensing
galaxy clusters
galaxy rotation curves
screening mechanism
post-Newtonian parameter gamma
weak-field limit
quasi-static limit
dark matter phenomenology
effective field theory (gravity)
<p>We study a minimal modification of general relativity in which the trace equation is fixed to its general-relativistic form, while departures enter only through the traceless (tidal) sector via a scalar field. In the weak-field, quasi-static regime the two Newtonian-gauge potentials obey Poisson equations with fixed scalar coefficients, implying a parameter-independent relation between scalar-induced lensing and nonrelativistic dynamics. In any patch where the effective coupling is approximately constant, the scalar contribution to the Weyl (lensing) potential is exactly 3/4 of its contribution to the dynamical potential. On the luminal tensor branch, the principal part of the transverse–traceless wave equation is unchanged, so free gravitational waves propagate at the speed of light. We adopt a covariant acceleration-based screening ansatz, α→αeff(χ) = α/(1 + χn) with χ= a/ascr, which preserves the 3/4 imprint while suppressing slip in high-acceleration environments. Using the Cassini bound on the PPN parameter γPPN we obtain a sufficient Solar-System screening requirement αeff ≲10−4 and an operational screening-radius gate rscr,⊙ ≳100 AU, corresponding to ascr ≲6×10−7 m s−2. We propose a direct discriminator based on the excess lensing-to-dynamics ratio Rexcess ≡(Mlens−Mb)/(Mdyn−Mb) in galaxies and clusters, which approaches 3/4 when the scalar contribution dominates the excess and screening is weak.</p>
title Traceless scalar tidal gravity: fixed lensing–to–dynamics ratio, luminal tensor waves, and acceleration screening
topic Modified gravity
general relativity
traceless stress / traceless modification
tidal gravity
gravitational slip
Weyl potential
gravitational lensing
galaxy clusters
galaxy rotation curves
screening mechanism
post-Newtonian parameter gamma
weak-field limit
quasi-static limit
dark matter phenomenology
effective field theory (gravity)
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18053041