Physical interpretation of constants in the solutions to the Brans-Dicke equations

TL;DR

This paper provides a physical interpretation of the constants in Brans-Dicke solutions using an energy-momentum complex, establishing bounds on parameters based on the positivity of tensor mass.

Contribution

It offers a novel physical interpretation of solution constants in Brans-Dicke theory and relates them to energy-momentum considerations.

Findings

Constants have a physical meaning via energy-momentum complex

Positivity of tensor mass constrains solution parameters

Clarifies physical properties of Brans-Dicke solutions

Abstract

Using an energy-momentum complex we give a physical interpretation to the constants in the well-known static spherically symmetric asymptotically flat vacuum solution to the Brans-Dicke equations. The positivity of the tensor mass puts a bound on parameters in the solution.