Bending of light in the framework of R + R2 gravity

Abstract

We present a tree level approach to the issue of the de ection of photons by the gravitational eld of the Sun, treated as an external eld, on the basis of R + R 2 gravity. We show that the de ection angle of a photon grazing the surface of the Sun is exactly the same as that given by general relativity. An explanation for this strange coincidence is provided.