# Light Bending in Models with a Generic Scalar Field

## TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that light bending and time delay near the Sun are unaffected by scalar fields with certain interactions, aligning with general relativity, and discusses constraints on scalar particles from solar system tests.

## Contribution

It shows that scalar fields with specific couplings do not alter light deflection and delay, and provides constraints on such scalars using PPN parameters.

## Key findings

- Light bending matches general relativity predictions despite scalar interactions.
- Scattering amplitude method can mislead about potential energy and polarization.
- Constraints on scalar particles derived from PPN parameter gamma.

## Abstract

We study the deflection and time delay of light by the Sun in general scalar extensions of the Standard Model which may violate the equivalence principle. Despite the presence of the interaction $\phi FF$ or $\phi F \tilde{F}$ between the scalar field and photon, we show that the bending and time delay of light are the same as in Einstein's general relativity. The bending angle is obtained using geometrical optics and compared with the angle obtained using another method based on scattering amplitude. It is pointed out that the method based on scattering amplitude can lead to wrong conclusions about potential energy and light polarization. Also, we obtain a constraint on the generic scalar particle from the parametrized post-Newtonian parameter $\gamma$, noting that planet motions are affected by the scalar field as in scalar-tensor theories with some modifications to the scalar field's couplings to the Sun and planets.