Is the Galileon theory an alternative to GR

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In summary, a new extension of the Galileon theory, which includes a breaking of the Vainshtein mechanism, has been proposed as a potential alternative to General Relativity for explaining gravitational effects on a large scale. This theory suggests that the observed effects attributed to Dark Matter in galaxy clusters can be explained by the screening mechanism. By applying this model to observations of galaxy clusters, it has been found that the assumption of no Dark Matter at all in clusters is able to match observations, placing interesting constraints on the model's parameters. However, this theory is still at the speculation stage and faces challenges with testability and in explaining all aspects of the current theory.
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wolram
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We have been searching for Dark Matter a long time, is it time to look at theories like this Galileon one?
What draw backs does it have? arXiv:1607.02606 [pdf, ps, other]
No need for dark matter in galaxy clusters within Galileon theory
Vincenzo Salzano, David F. Mota, Mariusz P. Dabrowski, Salvatore Capozziello
Comments: 14 pages, 4 figures
Subjects: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)

Modified gravity theories with a screening mechanism have acquired much interest recently in the quest for a viable alternative to General Relativity on cosmological scales, given their intrinsic property of being able to pass Solar System scale tests and, at the same time, to possibly drive universe acceleration on much larger scales. Here, we explore the possibility that the same screening mechanism, or its partial breaking at a certain astrophysical scale, might be responsible of those gravitational effects which, in the context of general relativity, are generally attributed to Dark Matter. We consider a recently proposed extension of covariant Galileon models in the so-called "beyond Horndeski" scenario, where a breaking of the Vainshtein mechanism is possible and, thus, some peculiar observational signatures should be detectable and make it distinguishable from general relativity. We apply this model to a sample of clusters of galaxies observed under the CLASH survey, using both new data from gravitational lensing events and archival data from X-ray intra-cluster hot gas observations. In particular, we use the latter to model the gas density, and then use it as the only ingredient in the matter clusters' budget to calculate the expected lensing convergence map. Results show that, in the context of this extended Galileon, the assumption of having only gas and no Dark Matter at all in the clusters is able to match observations. We also obtain narrow and very interesting bounds on the parameters which characterize this model. In particular, we find that, at least for one of them, the general relativity limit is excluded at 2σ confidence level, thus making this model clearly statistically different and competitive with respect to general relativity.
 
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Its been around since the 70's, see:
arXiv:1508.00046v2

I found a set of notes as slides... galileon theory is a subset of massive gravity theory.
https://clareburrage.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/helsinki_2013.pdf

Afaict...
Its very complicated, not testable in the lab, and introduces more problems than it solves.
Basically it is still at the status of speculation... it is not good enough for a new theory to explain something the current theory has trouble with, it also has to explain everything the current theory does.
 

Related to Is the Galileon theory an alternative to GR

1. What is the Galileon theory?

The Galileon theory is a modification of General Relativity (GR) that attempts to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe without the need for dark energy. It is based on the idea that there may be a new fundamental force that is responsible for this expansion.

2. How does the Galileon theory differ from GR?

The Galileon theory differs from GR in several ways. One of the main differences is that it introduces a new field, called the Galileon field, which interacts with matter and modifies the way gravity behaves on large scales. It also allows for a different mathematical description of gravity, known as the Galileon Lagrangian, which includes higher-order derivative terms.

3. Is the Galileon theory a viable alternative to GR?

While the Galileon theory has shown promise in addressing some of the shortcomings of GR, it is still a relatively new and untested theory. It is currently being studied and debated by the scientific community, and more evidence and experiments are needed to determine its validity as a true alternative to GR.

4. What evidence supports the Galileon theory?

Some observational evidence, such as the accelerated expansion of the universe and the behavior of galaxies, supports the Galileon theory. However, more research and experiments are needed to fully confirm its predictions and differentiate it from GR.

5. How does the Galileon theory impact our understanding of the universe?

The Galileon theory offers a new perspective on the nature of gravity and the expansion of the universe. If confirmed, it could potentially revolutionize our understanding of the fundamental forces at work in the universe and lead to new insights and advancements in physics and cosmology.

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