Spherically symmetric spacetimes in f(R) gravity theories

We study both analytically and numerically the gravitational fields of stars in f(R) gravity theories. We derive the generalized Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov equations for these theories and show that in metric f(R) models the parametrized post-Newtonian parameter gamma(PPN)=1/2 is a robust outcome for a large class of boundary conditions set at the center of the star. This result is also unchanged by the introduction of dark matter in the solar system. We find also a class of solutions with gamma(PPN)approximate to 1 in the metric f(R)=R-mu(4)/R model, but these solutions turn out to be unstable and decay in time. On the other hand, the Palatini version of the theory is found to satisfy the solar system constraints. We also consider compact stars in the Palatini formalism, and show that these models are not inconsistent with polytropic equations of state. Finally, we comment on the equivalence between f(R) gravity and scalar-tensor theories and show that many interesting Palatini f(R) gravity models cannot be understood as a limiting case of a Jordan-Brans-Dicke theory with omega ->-3/2.