Scalarized neutron stars in massive scalar-tensor gravity: X-ray pulsars and tidal deformability
Abstract
Neutron stars (NSs) in scalar-tensor theories of gravitation with the phenomenon of spontaneous scalarization can develop significant deviations from general relativity. Cases with a massless scalar were studied widely. Here we compare the NS scalarizations in the Damour--Esposito-Far{\`e}se theory, the Mendes-Ortiz theory, and the -theory with a massive scalar field. Numerical solutions for slowly rotating NSs are obtained. They are used to construct the X-ray pulse profiles of a pair of extended hot spots on the surface of NSs. We also calculate the tidal deformability for NSs with spontaneous scalarization which is done for the first time with a massive scalar field. We show the universal relation between the moment of inertia and the tidal deformability. The X-ray pulse profiles, the tidal deformability, and the universal relation may help to constrain the massive scalar-tensor theories in X-ray and gravitational-wave observations of NSs, including the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) satellite, Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope, and LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA laser interferometers.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2109.13453,
title = {Scalarized neutron stars in massive scalar-tensor gravity: X-ray pulsars and tidal deformability},
author = {Zexin Hu and Yong Gao and Rui Xu and Lijing Shao},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2109.13453},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
14 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables; accepted by PRD