A novel test of gravity: Does spacetime geometry track matter density?

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new test for gravity that compares the growth of matter density fluctuations with spacetime geometry distortions, aiming to detect deviations from general relativity using galaxy clustering and lensing data.

Contribution

It develops a null test based on measuring the Weyl potential to identify inconsistencies with general relativity, robust against dark energy and dark matter modifications.

Findings

No deviation from general relativity detected with current data.

Constraints show the Weyl potential tracks matter density within 33%.

Future surveys will tighten constraints to below 4%.

Abstract

We propose a novel test of gravity that combines galaxy clustering with gravitational lensing. In general relativity, the evolution of matter density fluctuations and of the Weyl potential -- the sum of spatial and temporal distortions of the geometry -- are governed by the same growth function. In contrast, alternative theories of gravity that modify the relation between geometry and matter content can lead to differences in these two growths. Exploiting a recent method to directly measure the Weyl potential, we construct a null test that deviates from zero if and only if there is a mismatch between the growth rate of density and that of geometry distortions. We show that changes in the background expansion due to alternative dark energy models and additional forces in the dark matter sector induce no deviations in this test, making it a robust probe for detecting departures from general relativity. Applying the test to current data, we find no evidence of deviation. From an initial $z_*=10$ to $z\sim 0.5$, we constrain the evolution of the Weyl potential to track that of the density to within 33\%. Combining stage-IV surveys will improve the precision across a broad redshift range, limiting differences between the two evolutions to below $2-4\%$.