The parameterized post-Newtonian limit of bimetric theories of gravity

Abstract

We consider the post-Newtonian limit of a general class of bimetric theories of gravity, in which both metrics are dynamical. The established parameterized post-Newtonian approach is followed as closely as possible, although new potentials are found that do not exist within the standard framework. It is found that these theories can evade solar system tests of post-Newtonian gravity remarkably well. We show that perturbations about Minkowski space in these theories contain both massless and massive degrees of freedom, and that in general there are two different types of massive mode, each with a different mass parameter. If both of these masses are sufficiently large then the predictions of the most general class of theories we consider are indistinguishable from those of general relativity, up to post-Newtonian order in a weak-field, low-velocity expansion. In the limit that the massive modes become massless, we find that these general theories do not exhibit a van Dam–Veltman–Zakharov-like discontinuity in their γ parameter, although there are discontinuities in other post-Newtonian parameters as the massless limit is approached. This smooth behaviour in γ is due to the discontinuities from each of the two different massive modes cancelling each other out. Such cancellations cannot occur in special cases with only one massive mode, such as the Isham–Salam–Strathdee theory.