In hot pursuit of a stable wormhole in beyond Horndeski theory

Abstract

We consider the issue of stability at the linearized level for static, spherically symmetric wormhole solutions within a subclass of scalar-tensor theories of beyond Horndeski type. In this class of theories we derive a set of stability conditions ensuring the absence of ghosts and both radial and angular gradient instabilities about a static, spherically-symmetric background. This set of constraints extends the existing one and completes the stability analysis for high energy modes in both parity odd and parity even sectors, while "slow" tachyonic instabilities remain unconstrained. We give an example of beyond Horndeski Lagrangian admitting a wormhole solution which complies with all stability constraints for the high energy modes.