Detecting Chameleon Dark Energy via Electrostatic Analogy

Understand

The late-time accelerated expansion of the universe could be caused by a scalar field that is screened on small scales, as in chameleon or symmetron scenarios.

• We present an analogy between thin shell configurations of such scalar fields and electrostatics, which allows calculation of the field profile for general extended bodies.
• Interestingly, the field demonstrates a `lightning rod' effect, where it becomes enhanced near the ends of a pointy or elongated object.
• Drawing from this correspondence, we show that non-spherical test bodies immersed in a background field will experience a net torque caused by the scalar field.