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arxiv: 1307.3933 · v1 · pith:VL75KXNXnew · submitted 2013-07-15 · 🌀 gr-qc

Unraveling gravity beyond Einstein with extended test bodies

classification 🌀 gr-qc
keywords bodiestesttheoriesequationsgeneralgravitymotionbeyond
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The motion of test bodies in gravity is tightly linked to the conservation laws. This well-known fact in the context of General Relativity is also valid for gravitational theories which go beyond Einstein's theory. Here we derive the equations of motion for test bodies for a very large class of gravitational theories with a general nonminimal coupling to matter. These equations form the basis for future systematic tests of alternative gravity theories. Our treatment is covariant and generalizes the classic Mathisson-Papapetrou-Dixon result for spinning (extended) test bodies. The equations of motion for structureless test bodies turn out to be surprisingly simple, despite the very general nature of the theories considered.

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