A non-geodesic motion in the R^-1 theory of gravity tuned with observations

TL;DR

This paper explores a modified gravity theory where an explicit coupling between R^-1 and matter causes test particles to follow non-geodesic paths, potentially explaining dark matter effects and Pioneer anomaly.

Contribution

It introduces a new framework for R^-1 gravity with matter coupling, leading to non-geodesic motion and offering alternative explanations for dark matter and Pioneer anomaly.

Findings

Test particles exhibit non-geodesic motion due to matter coupling.

The model provides a potential explanation for dark matter phenomena.

It offers an alternative approach to Pioneer anomaly without dark matter.

Abstract

In the general picture of high order theories of gravity, recently, the R^-1 theory has been analyzed in two different frameworks. In this letter a third context is added, considering an explicit coupling between the R^-1 function of the Ricci scalar and the matter Lagrangian. The result is a non-geodesic motion of test particles which, in principle, could be connected with Dark Matter and Pioneer anomaly problems.