Stringent Pulsar Timing Bounds on Light Scalar Couplings to Matter

TL;DR

This paper derives and applies pulsar timing constraints to scalar-tensor theories with conformal and disformal couplings, providing bounds comparable to solar system and gravitational wave constraints, and discusses future prospects with black hole systems.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized quasi-Keplerian solution including post-Newtonian corrections from scalar couplings and uses pulsar timing data to set new bounds on these couplings.

Findings

Upper bound on conformal coupling: β² < 2.33×10⁻⁵

Lower bound on disformal scale: Λ ≥ 1.12 MeV

Constraints comparable to Cassini and GW-170817 bounds

Abstract

Pulsar Timing constraints on scalar-tensor theories with conformal and disformal couplings to matter are discussed. Reducing the dynamics to the motion in the centre of mass frame and using the mean anomaly parametrisation, we find the first post-Newtonian corrections induced by the conformal and disformal interactions in the form of a generalized quasi-Keplerian solution. We also derive the radiation reaction force due to scalar radiation and the corresponding Post-Keplerian Parameters (PKP). We use different pulsar time of arrival (TOA) data sets to probe the scalar corrections to the PKP. In particular, we focus on systems with large orbital frequencies as the contributions to the PKP terms induced by the disformal coupling are sensitive to higher frequencies. We find that the most constraining { {pulsar timings}} are PSR B1913+16 and the double pulsar PSR J0737-3039A/B, being {{of the order of}} the Cassini bound on the conformal coupling obtained from the Shapiro effect in the solar system. { {The combined constraints using other pulsar timings give an upper bound on the conformal coupling $\beta^2 < 2.33 \cdot 10^{-5}$ and a lower bound on the disformal coupling scale of $\Lambda \geq 1.12 \ {\rm MeV}$ which is comparable to the Cassini bound and to the GW-170817 constraints respectively}}. Future measurements for pulsar timing with black hole companions are also discussed.