Related papers: Axio-Chameleons: A Novel String-Friendly Multi-fie…
We analyse screening in multi-field scalar-tensor theories, focusing on systems with a dilaton coupled to matter and an axion with a dilaton-dependent kinetic term, in the presence of both planetary and stellar density profiles. Using…
In scalar-tensor theories it is the two-derivative sigma-model interactions that like to compete at low energies with the two-derivative interactions of General Relativity (GR) $\unicode{x2014}$ at least once the dangerous zero-derivative…
Observational evidence implying the accelerated expansion of the universe has been the motivation to develop various classes of modified gravity theories. One of them uses the so-called "screening mechanism", which is successful in…
We discuss a way in which the geometric scalar field in a Brans-Dicke theory can evade local astronomical tests and act as a driver of the late-time cosmic acceleration. This requires a self-interaction of the Brans-Dicke scalar as well as…
We study the cosmology of multi-field Dark Energy, using a well-motivated axio-dilaton model that contains the minimal number of fields to have the 2-derivative sigma-model interactions that power-counting arguments show naturally compete…
Cosmologically active Brans-Dicke (or dilaton) scalar fields are generically ruled out by solar system tests of gravity unless their couplings to ordinary matter are much suppressed relative to gravitational strength, and this is a major…
Certain scalar-tensor theories exhibit the so-called chameleon mechanism, whereby observational signatures of scalar fields are hidden by a combination of self-interactions and interactions with ambient matter. Not all scalar-tensor…
Light scalar fields coupled to matter are a common consequence of theories of dark energy and attempts to solve the cosmological constant problem. The chameleon screening mechanism is commonly invoked in order to suppress the fifth forces…
Axio-dilaton models are among the simplest scalar-tensor theories that contain the two-derivative interactions that naturally compete at low energies with the two-derivative inter-actions of General Relativity. Such models are…
The search for non-baryonic dark matter remains a key focus in modern physics, with the light pseudoscalar axion serving as a well-motivated candidate. Here, we present a laboratory-scale detection scheme to constrain axion-nucleon…
We show that, as a result of non-linear self-interactions, it is feasible, at least in light of the bounds coming from terrestrial tests of gravity, measurements of the Casimir force and those constraints imposed by the physics of compact…
In general, modified gravity theories are modifications or extensions of Einstein's general relativity. Some of them give rise to additional scalar degrees of freedom in Nature. If these scalar fields exist and are light enough, they should…
Scalar fields with a "chameleon" property, in which the effective particle mass is a function of its local environment, are common to many theories beyond the standard model and could be responsible for dark energy. If these fields couple…
Screening mechanisms are a natural method for suppressing long-range forces in scalar-tensor theories as they link the local background density to their strength. Focusing on Brans-Dicke theories, those including a non-minimal coupling…
Theories of modified gravity where light scalars with non-trivial self-interactions and non-minimal couplings to matter-chameleon and symmetron theories-dynamically suppress deviations from general relativity in the solar system. On other…
The last few decades have provided abundant evidence for physics beyond the two standard models of particle physics and cosmology. As is now known, the by far largest part of our universe's matter/energy content lies in the `dark' and…
We investigated the stability of the chameleon screening mechanism in the Brans-Dicke scalar-tensor model. We define a constraint on the Brans-Dicke parameter $\omega_{BD}^*$ identifying two stability groups, $\omega_{BD}>\omega_{BD}^*$ and…
We study a new screening mechanism which is present in Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI)-like theories. A scalar field with a DBI-like Lagrangian is minimally coupled to matter. In the vicinity of sufficiently dense sources, non-linearities in the…
Many modifications of gravity introduce new scalar degrees of freedom, and in such theories matter fields typically couple to an effective metric that depends on both the true metric of spacetime and on the scalar field and its derivatives.…
Scalar fields in 4D are known to have equivalent dual descriptions in terms of form-field gauge potentials, but this is often regarded as an arcane fact. Why use more complicated formulations when simpler scalar descriptions exist and are…