Wormholes in $R^2$-gravity within the $f(R,T)$ formalism

TL;DR

This paper models wormholes within a specific modified gravity theory, $f(R,T)=R+eta R^2+ heta T$, demonstrating that such models can satisfy energy conditions due to quadratic and linear corrections.

Contribution

It introduces the first analysis of wormholes in the $f(R,T)$ gravity framework with quadratic and linear terms, expanding the scope beyond compact objects.

Findings

Wormholes in $f(R,T)$ gravity can satisfy energy conditions.

Quadratic and linear corrections influence matter content viability.

First such analysis in this specific gravity formalism.

Abstract

We propose, as a novelty in the literature, the modelling of wormholes within the particular case of the $f(R,T)$ gravity, namely $f(R,T)=R+\alpha R^{2}+\lambda T$, with $R$ and $T$ being the Ricci scalar and trace of the energy-momentum tensor, respectively, while $\alpha$ and $\lambda$ are constants. Although such a functional form application can be found in the literature, those concern to compact astrophysical objects, such that no wormhole analysis has been done so far. The quadratic geometric and linear material corrections of this theory make the matter content of the wormhole to remarkably be able to obey the energy conditions.