Constraints on Hořava–Lifshitz gravity from GRB 170817A

Abstract

Abstract In this work we focus on a toy model: ( $$3+1$$ 3 + 1 )-dimensional Hořava–Lifshitz gravity coupling with an anisotropic electromagnetic (EM) field which is generated through a Kaluza-Klein reduction of a ( $$4+1$$ 4 + 1 )-dimensional Hořava–Lifshitz gravity. This model exhibits a remarkable feature that it has the same velocity for both gravitational and electromagnetic waves. This feature makes it possible to restrict the parameters of the theory from GRB 170817A. In this work we use this feature to discuss possible constraints on the parameter $$\beta $$ β in the theory, by analyzing the possible Lorentz invariance violation effect of the GRB 170817A. This is achieved by analyzing potential time delay of gamma-ray photons in this event. It turns out that it places a stringent constraint on this parameter. In the most ideal case, it gives $$|1-\sqrt{\beta }|<(10^{-19}-10^{-18})$$ | 1 - β | < ( 10 - 19 - 10 - 18 ) .