Higher order gravity theories and scalar tensor theories

Sep, 2003
5 pages
Published in:
  • Class.Quant.Grav. 21 (2003) 417-426
e-Print:

Citations per year

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Abstract: (arXiv)
We generalize the known equivalence between higher order gravity theories and scalar tensor theories to a new class of theories. Specifically, in the context of a first order or Palatini variational principle where the metric and connection are treated as independent variables, we consider theories for which the Lagrangian density is a function f of (i) the Ricci scalar computed from the metric, and (ii) a second Ricci scalar computed from the connection. We show that such theories can be written as tensor-multi-scalar theories with two scalar fields with the following features: (i) the two dimensional sigma-model metric that defines the kinetic energy terms for the scalar fields has constant, negative curvature: (ii) the coupling function determining the coupling to matter of the scalar fields is universal, independent of the choice of function f: and (iii) if both mass eigenstates are long ranged, then the Eddington post-Newtonian parameter has value 1/2. Therefore in order to be compatible with solar system experiments at least one of the mass eigenstates must be short ranged.
  • gravitation: higher-order
  • gravitation: scalar
  • gravitation: tensor
  • sigma model
  • matter: coupling
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