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Free keywords:
Astrophysics, High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena, astro-ph.HE,General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, gr-qc
Abstract:
Future very-large-area X-ray instruments (for which the effective area is
larger than $>3$m$^2$) will be able to measure the frequencies of
quasi-periodic oscillations~(QPOs) observed in the X-ray flux from accreting
compact objects with sub-percent precision. If correctly modeled, QPOs can
provide a novel way to test the strong-field regime of gravity. By using the
relativistic precession model and a modified version of the epicyclic resonance
model, we develop a method to test general relativity against a generic class
of theories with quadratic curvature corrections. With the instrumentation
being studied for future missions such as eXTP, LOFT, or STROBE-X, a
measurement of at least two QPO triplets from a stellar mass black hole can set
stringent constraints on the coupling parameters of quadratic gravity.
