12 papers
Constraints on Stable Scalar-Tensor Dark Energy from DESI Data and Solar System Tests
Husam Adam, Mark P. Hertzberg, Daniel Jiménez-Aguilar
We investigate the viability of scalar-tensor (quintessence) models of dark energy with a quartic polynomial nonminimal coupling to gravity and a linear scalar potential. The polyn…
Theoretical and Observational Bounds on Dynamical Chern-Simons Gravity as an Effective Field Theory
Alexander Cassem, Mark P. Hertzberg
Gravitational effective theories are essential for characterizing the space of deviations from General Relativity (GR). Testing these theories against fundamental principles, such…
Effects of New Forces on Scalar Dark Matter Solitons
Alize Sucsuzer, Mark P. Hertzberg, Michiru Uwabo-Niibo
New long range forces acting on ordinary matter are highly constrained. However it is possible such forces act on dark matter, as it is less constrained observationally. In this wo…
Unitarity, Causality, and Solar System Bounds May Significantly Limit the Use of Gravitational Waves to Test General Relativity
Alexander Cassem, Mark P. Hertzberg
The prospect of detecting/constraining deviations from general relativity by studying gravitational waves (GWs) from merging black holes has been one of the primary motivations of…
Comparing Minimal and Non-Minimal Quintessence Models to 2025 DESI Data
Husam Adam, Mark P. Hertzberg, Daniel Jiménez-Aguilar +1
In this work we examine the 2025 DESI analysis of dark energy, which suggests that dark energy is evolving in time with an increasing equation of state . We explore a wide range…
Solar System Constraints on Light Propagation from Higher Derivative Corrections to General Relativity and Implications for Fundamental Physics
Mark P. Hertzberg, Rachel Nathan, Suzanna E. Semaan
While the two derivative action of gravitation is specified uniquely, higher derivative operators are also allowed with coefficients that are not specified uniquely by effective fi…