New upper limits of a braneworld model with recent Solar System tests

Abstract

As an extension of previous works on classical tests of a braneworld model which is called as the Dadhich, Maartens, Papadopoulos and Rezania (DMPR) solution, and as an attempt to find more stringent constraints on this model, we investigate its effects on physical experiments and astronomical observations conducted in the Solar System by modeling new observable effects and adopting new datasets. First, we investigate gravitational time delay at inferior conjunction (IC) caused by the braneworld model, which was not considered in previous works, because these measurements are not affected by the solar corona noise. Second, the Cassini superior conjunction (SC) experiment is, for the first time, used to test the DMPR model. Third, compared to previous works, we refine the model, which confronts the perihelion shift induced by the braneworld model with modern Solar System ephemerides INPOP10a (IMCCE, France) and EPM2011 (IAA RAS, Russia). The correction of DMPR solution to Einstein’s general relativity (GR) in the four-dimensional spacetime can be characterized by a constant bulk “tidal charge” parameter [Formula: see text], which is confined in the present work. We find that time delay experiment at IC is independent of [Formula: see text] and not suitable for testing the braneworld model. However, the Cassini SC experiment and modern Solar System ephemerides can give better upper bounds on [Formula: see text]: (1) [Formula: see text] by Cassini, and (2) [Formula: see text] based on the supplementary advances of the perihelia provided by INPOP10a and [Formula: see text] based on the ones of EPM2011. The latter upper bounds are improved to be tighter than the ones of previous works by at least two orders of magnitude. Besides, the stronger constraints on the brane tension are given by the modern ephemerides, which are [Formula: see text] for INPOP10a and [Formula: see text] for EPM2011. These improved upper bounds mean that the Solar System tests can serve as a good testbed for high dimensional theories.