Luminosity-Temperature Relation as a Probe for Modified Gravity

Abstract

We investigate the luminosity-temperature ($L$-$T$) relation of galaxy clusters as a probe for testing modified gravity (MG) theories, focusing on $f(R)$ gravity and symmetron models. Using an improved semi-analytic framework that incorporates angular momentum acquisition, dynamical friction, and shock heating within the modified punctuated equilibrium model, we compare predictions against hydrodynamical simulations and observational data. While massive clusters remain largely screened and follow standard $\Lambda$CDM predictions, low-mass systems ($kT\lesssim 1-2$ keV) exhibit systematic deviations characterized by steeper $L$-$T$ slopes in MG scenarios. Crucially, we demonstrate that these signatures cannot be mimicked by conventional astrophysical processes such as feedback or angular momentum effects, which primarily affect normalization rather than curvature. Our results establish the $L$-$T$ relation as a robust diagnostic tool for distinguishing general relativity from screened MG theories, with the strongest discriminatory power emerging at group scales accessible to current and future X-ray surveys. Moreover, a normalized reduced ${\chi }^2$ analysis of the $L$-$T$ relation shows that MG models provide significantly better agreement with observational data than $\Lambda$CDM, with several realizations achieving excellent fits while the $\Lambda$CDM model consistently performs worst.

8 pages, 4 figures, refs included

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