Observational signatures of Jordan-Brans-Dicke theories of gravity

TL;DR

This paper investigates how deviations from General Relativity predicted by Jordan-Brans-Dicke theories can be detected using cosmological observations from the early universe to the present, with upcoming experiments capable of constraining the theory's parameters.

Contribution

It demonstrates a method to distinguish Jordan-Brans-Dicke gravity from General Relativity using combined early and late-time cosmological data, improving constraints on the coupling parameter.

Findings

Upcoming experiments can detect $\omega_{ m JBD}$ as large as 500.

Next-generation experiments can constrain $\omega_{ m JBD}$ up to 1000.

Method effectively differentiates JBD from GR using combined observational data.

Abstract

We analyze the Jordan-Brans-Dicke model (JBD) of gravity, where deviations from General Relativity (GR) are described by a scalar field non-minimally coupled to gravity. The theory is characterized by a constant coupling parameter, $\omega_{\rm JBD}$; GR is recovered in the limit $\omega_{\rm JBD} \to \infty$. In such theories, gravity modifications manifest at early times, so that one cannot rely on the usual approach of looking for inconsistencies in the expansion history and perturbations growth in order to discriminate between JBD and GR. However, we show that a similar technique can be successfully applied to early and late times observables instead. Cosmological parameters inferred extrapolating early-time observations to the present will match those recovered from direct late-time observations only if the correct gravity theory is used. We use the primary CMB, as will be seen by the Planck satellite, as the early-time observable; and forthcoming and planned Supernov{\ae}, Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations and Weak Lensing experiments as late-time observables. We find that detection of values of $\omega_{\rm JBD}$ as large as 500 and 1000 is within reach of the upcoming (2010) and next-generation (2020) experiments, respectively.