Multipolar test body equations of motion in generalized gravity theories

TL;DR

This paper develops a unified framework for deriving multipolar equations of motion for extended test bodies across various gravitational theories, including those with additional fields, structures, and nonminimal couplings.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive method to derive equations of motion in a wide range of alternative gravity theories beyond General Relativity.

Findings

Unified derivation framework for multiple theories

Handles theories with scalar fields and extra geometrical structures

Enables systematic testing of diverse gravitational models

Abstract

We give an overview of the derivation of multipolar equations of motion of extended test bodies for a wide set of gravitational theories beyond the standard general relativistic framework. The classes of theories covered range from simple generalizations of General Relativity, e.g. encompassing additional scalar fields, to theories with additional geometrical structures which are needed for the description of microstructured matter. Our unified framework even allows to handle theories with nonminimal coupling to matter, and thereby for a systematic test of a very broad range of gravitational theories.