A Special Class of the Scalar-Tensor Gravity with Scalar-Matter Direct Coupling

Abstract: A role of the scalar-matter direct coupling in the evolution of scalar-tensor gravity was studied. If the coupling functions in the generalized scalar-tensor gravity satisfy a definite equation the scalar-tensor gravity is reduced to Einstein's tensor gravity. We consider the issue in Jordan frame and then Einstein frame. It is shown that the coupling strength in the right hand side of the master equation obtained in Damour and Nordtvedt(1993) must be added by a coupling strength $\hat{\beta}$ which characterizes the scalar-matter direct coupling. If a minimum of potential $\ln C(\varphi)$ does not coincide with one of the potential $\ln A(\varphi)$ or the potential $\ln C(\varphi)$ does not have any minimum and is a monotonic function, then the attractor mechanism of scalar-tensor gravity toward pure general relativity should be modified, and the combined potential $\ln A(\varphi)+\ln C(\varphi)$ will determine the attractor mechanism.