Sound speed as a source of the gravitational field in modified gravity

Abstract: In the context of $f(R,T)$ gravity and other modified theories of gravity, the knowledge of the first order variation of the trace $T$ of the energy-momentum tensor with respect to the metric is essential for an accurate characterization of the gravitational field. In this paper, by considering a paradigmatic example of a perfect fluid whose dynamics is described by a pure k-essence matter Lagrangian in $f(R,T)=R+\mathcal F(T)$ gravity, we show that the first order variation of the trace of the energy-momentum tensor cannot in general be determined from the proper density, proper pressure and 4-velocity of the fluid alone, and that the sound speed of the fluid can directly influence the dynamics of gravity. We also confirm that the second variation of the matter Lagrangian with respect to the metric should not in general be neglected. These results can be particularly relevant for cosmological studies of $f(R,T)$ gravity in which some of the material content of the Universe is modeled as a perfect fluid.