Strong lensing constraints on modified gravity models

Abstract

We impose the first strong-lensing constraints on a wide class of modified gravity models where an extra field that modifies gravity also couples to photons (either directly or indirectly through a coupling with baryons) and thus modifies lensing. We use the nonsingular isothermal ellipsoid (NIE) profile as an effective potential, which produces flat galactic rotation curves. If a concrete modified gravity model gives a flat rotation curve, then the parameter $\Gamma$ that characterizes the lensing effect must take some definite value. We find that $\Gamma =1.24\pm 0.65$ at $1\sigma$, consistent with general relativity ($\Gamma =1$). This constrains the parameter space in some recently proposed models.

5 pages, 4 figures

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