On the perspectives of testing the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati gravity model with the outer planets of the Solar System

TL;DR

This paper examines the potential of using outer planets, especially Saturn, to test the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati gravity model's predictions on orbital precessions, but current measurement precision is insufficient.

Contribution

It evaluates the feasibility of detecting DGP gravity effects on outer planets using recent ephemeris data and concludes current technology is inadequate.

Findings

Current observational accuracy is too low to detect predicted effects.

Outer planet data, including Saturn, are less effective for testing DGP effects.

Future missions like Cassini and GAIA are unlikely to improve detection prospects.

Abstract

The multidimensional braneworld gravity model by Dvali, Gabadadze and Porrati was primarily put forth to explain the observed acceleration of the expansion of the Universe without resorting to dark energy. One of the most intriguing features of such a model is that it also predicts small effects on the orbital motion of test particles which could be tested in such a way that local measurements at Solar System scales would allow to get information on the global properties of the Universe. Lue and Starkman derived a secular extra-perihelion \omega precession of 5\times 10^-4 arcseconds per century, while Iorio showed that the mean longitude \lambda is affected by a secular precession of about 10^-3 arcseconds per century. Such effects depend only on the eccentricities e of the orbits via second-order terms: they are, instead, independent of their semimajor axes a. Up to now, the observational efforts focused on the dynamics of the inner planets of the Solar System whose orbits are the best known via radar ranging. Since the competing Newtonian and Einsteinian effects like the precessions due to the solar quadrupole mass moment J2, the gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic part of the equations of motion reduce with increasing distances, it would be possible to argue that an analysis of the orbital dynamics of the outer planets of the Solar System, with particular emphasis on Saturn because of the ongoing Cassini mission with its precision ranging instrumentation, could be helpful in evidencing the predicted new features of motion. In this note we investigate this possibility in view of the latest results in the planetary ephemeris field. Unfortunately, the current level of accuracy rules out this appealing possibility and it appears unlikely that Cassini and GAIA will ameliorate the situation.