New post-Newtonian parameter to test Chern-Simons gravity

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 Dec 14;99(24):241101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.241101. Epub 2007 Dec 10.

Abstract

We study Chern-Simons (CS) gravity in the parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) framework through a weak-field solution of the modified field equations. We find that CS gravity possesses the same PPN parameters as general relativity, except for the inclusion of a new term, proportional to the CS coupling and the curl of the PPN vector potential. This new term leads to a modification of frame dragging and gyroscopic precession and we provide an estimate of its size. This correction might be used in experiments, such as Gravity Probe B, to bound CS gravity and test string theory.