The roots of scalar-tensor theory: an approximate history

Abstract

Why are there no fundamental scalar fields actually observed in physics today? Scalars are the simplest fields, but once we go beyond Galilean-Newtonian physics they appear only in speculations, as possible determinants of the gravitational constants in the so-called Scalar-Tensor theories in non-quantum physics, and as Higgs particles, dilatons, etc., in quantum physics. Actually, scalar fields have had a long and controversial life in gravity theories, with a history of deaths and resurrections. This paper presents a brief overview of this history.

Cited by in corpus (9)

• On Born-Infeld Gravity in Weitzenbock spacetime
• Scientific Potential of DECIGO Pathfinder and Testing GR with Space-Borne Gravitational Wave Interferometers
• Equations of motion in scalar-tensor theories of gravity: A covariant multipolar approach
• 100 years of mathematical cosmology: Models, theories, and problems
• The unexpected resurgence of Weyl geometry in late 20-th century physics
• Spectroscopy of ultralight bosons by photon-boson-photon conversion-reconversion: experimental aspects
• A Theory of Gravitation Covariant under $Sp(4,\mathbf{R})$}
• Inflation and Dark Matter from The Low Entropy Hypothesis and Modeling Mechanism of Modified Gravity
• On the harmonic map equation