On the non-minimal gravitational coupling to matter

Abstract

The connection between $f(R)$ theories of gravity and scalar-tensor models with a "physical" metric coupled to the scalar field is well known. In this work, we pursue the equivalence between a suitable scalar theory and a model that generalises the $f(R)$ scenario, encompassing both a non-trivial scalar curvature term and a non-minimum coupling of the scalar curvature and matter. This equivalence allows for the calculation of the PPN parameters $\beta$ and $\gamma$ and, eventually, a solution to the debate concerning the weak-field limit of $f(R)$ theories.