Scalar self-interactions loosen constraints from fifth force searches

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2004 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.70.104001· OSTI ID:20698002

Gubser, Steven S ^[1]; Khoury, Justin ^[2]

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1. Joseph Henry Laboratories, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)
2. Institute for Strings, Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027 (United States)

The mass of a scalar field mediating a fifth force is tightly constrained by experiments. We show, however, that adding a quartic self-interaction for such a scalar makes most tests much less constraining: the nonlinear equation of motion masks the coupling of the scalar to matter through the chameleon mechanism. We discuss consequences for fifth force experiments. In particular, we find that, with quartic coupling of order unity, a gravitational strength interaction with matter is allowed by current constraints. We show that our chameleon scalar field results in experimental signatures that could be detected through modest improvements of current laboratory set-ups.

• OSTI ID: 20698002
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 70; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
COUPLING
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
MASS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PHI4-FIELD THEORY
SCALAR FIELDS
SCALARS