Releasing scalar fields: cosmological simulations of scalar-tensor theories for gravity beyond the static approximation

Abstract

Several extensions of General Relativity and high energy physics include scalar fields as extra degrees of freedom. In the search for predictions in the non-linear regime of cosmological evolution, the community makes use of numerical simulations in which the quasi-static limit is assumed when solving the equation of motion of the scalar field. In this Letter, we propose a method to solve the full equations of motion for scalar degrees of freedom coupled to matter. We run cosmological simulations which track the full time and space evolution of the scalar field, and find striking differences with respect to the commonly used quasi-static approximation. This novel procedure reveals new physical properties of the scalar field and uncovers concealed astrophysical phenomena which were hidden in the old approach.

5 Pages, 3 figures, matches version accepted for publication in PRL

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• Screening Modifications of Gravity through Disformally Coupled Fields
• A Dark Core in Abell 520
• Probing the nature of dark matter with Cosmic X-rays: Constraints from "Dark blobs" and grating spectra of galaxy clusters

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