Towards numerical relativity in scalar Gauss-Bonnet gravity: <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mn>3</mml:mn><mml:mo>+</mml:mo><mml:mn>1</mml:mn></mml:math> decomposition beyond the small-coupling limit
Helvi Witek, Leonardo Gualtieri, Paolo Pani
Abstract
Scalar Gauss-Bonnet gravity is the only theory with quadratic curvature corrections to general relativity whose field equations are of second differential order. This theory allows for nonperturbative dynamical corrections and is therefore one of the most compelling case studies for beyond-general relativity effects in the strong-curvature regime. However, having second-order field equations is not a guarantee for a healthy time evolution in generic configurations. As a first step toward evolving black-hole binaries in this theory, we here derive the $3+1$ decomposition of the field equations for any (not necessarily small) coupling constant, and we discuss potential challenges of its implementation.