PHENOMENOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE KEHAGIAS–SFETSOS SOLUTION IN THE HOŘAVA–LIFSHITZ GRAVITY FROM SOLAR SYSTEM ORBITAL MOTIONS

Abstract

We focus on Hořava–Lifshitz (HL) theory of gravity, and, in particular, on the Kehagias and Sfetsos's solution that is the analog of Schwarzschild black hole of General Relativity. In the weak-field and slow-motion approximation, we analytically work out the secular precession of the longitude of the pericentre ϖ of a test particle induced by this solution. Its analytical form is different from that of the general relativistic Einstein's pericentre precession. Then, we compare it to the latest determinations of the corrections [Formula: see text] to the standard Newtonian/Einsteinian planetary perihelion precessions recently estimated by E. V. Pitjeva with the EPM2008 ephemerides. It turns out that the planets of the solar system, taken singularly one at a time, allow one to put lower bounds on the adimensional HL parameter ψ0 of the order of 10-12(Mercury)-10-24 (Pluto). They are not able to account for the Pioneer anomalous acceleration for r > 20 AU.