MG14 - Talk detail

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Higher-derivative gravity, i.e. the system defined by General Relativity's Lagrangian augmented by curvature-squared terms, is a renormalizable gravity model, along with its matter couplings. This model has two free parameters, $\alpha$ and $\beta$, which couple the higher-order terms $R^2$ and $R_{\mu\nu}^2$, respectively. In this work we study the bending of light in the framework of higher-derivative gravity utilizing both classical and semiclassical approaches. We show that the Ricci-squared sector is associated to a repulsive interaction and, at the tree-level, yields dispersive photon propagation yet in first order. Also, a comparison between the predicted results and experimental data allows us to set an upper bound on the coupling constant $\beta$.

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Higher-derivative gravity (HDG) has two free parameters, $\alpha$ and $\beta$, which couple the curvature-squared terms, $R^2$ and $R_{\mu\nu}^2$, respectively. Both Newtonian inverse-square law experiments and relativistic effects have recently been used to stablish bounds to many interesting models, such as $f(R)$ and scalar-tensor theories, extra-dimension scenarios and Standard Model extensions. Our aim in this work is to review those experimental results in the context of HDG. The strictest limit we report ($\alpha,\beta\leq10^{58}$) follows from E\"ot-Wash torsion-balance experiments. Interestingly, the bound on $\beta$ due to semiclassical deflection of photons grazing the Sun is only three orders of magnitude larger.

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