Searching for scalar gravitational interactions in current and future cosmological data

TL;DR

This paper investigates constraints on scalar gravitational interactions using current linear regime cosmological data and forecasts the improved constraints future large-scale surveys like LSST could achieve, especially at higher redshifts.

Contribution

It introduces a model-independent framework for constraining scalar-tensor theories and forecasts the potential of future surveys to tighten these constraints significantly.

Findings

Current data provides limited constraints due to low redshift focus.

Future surveys like LSST will significantly improve constraints on scalar interactions.

Principal component analysis identifies key modes of scalar mass evolution that future data can constrain.

Abstract

Modified gravity theories often contain a scalar field of gravitational strength which interacts with matter. We examine constraints on the range and the coupling strength of a scalar gravitational degree of freedom using a subset of current data that can be safely analyzed within the linear perturbation theory. Using a model-independent implementation of scalar-tensor theories in MGCAMB in terms of two functions of the scale factor describing the mass and the coupling of the scalar degree of freedom, we derive constraints on the $f(R)$, generalized chameleon, Symmetron and Dilaton models. Since most of the large scale structure data available today is from relatively low redshifts, only a limited range of observed scales is in the linear regime, leading to relatively weak constraints. We then perform a forecast for a future large scale structure survey, such as Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), which will map a significant volume at higher redshifts, and show that it will produce much stronger constraints on scalar interactions in specific models. We also perform a principal component analysis and find that future surveys should be able to provide tight constraints on several eigenmodes of the scalar mass evolution.