Shape of Clusters as a Probe of Screening Mechanisms in Modified Gravity

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how galaxy cluster ellipticity observations can distinguish between modified gravity models with scalar fields and screening mechanisms, providing new constraints on these theories.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method using cluster shape measurements to test and differentiate screening mechanisms in modified gravity models.

Findings

Ellipticity measurements can discriminate between models with and without scalar fields.

New observational constraints on screening mechanisms in modified gravity.

Galaxy cluster shapes serve as effective probes for testing gravity theories.

Abstract

Scalar fields are crucial components in high energy physics and extensions of General Relativity. The fact they are not observed in the solar system may be due to a mechanism which screens their presence in high dense regions. We show how observations of the ellipticity of galaxy clusters can discriminate between models with and without scalar fields and even between different screening mechanisms. Using nowadays X-ray observations we put novel constraints on the different models.