Neutron stars in Scalar-Tensor-Vector Gravity

Scalar-Tensor-Vector Gravity (STVG), also referred as Modified Gravity (MOG), is an alternative theory of the gravitational interaction. Its weak field approximation has been successfully used to describe Solar System observations, galaxy rotation curves, dynamics of clusters of galaxies, and cosmological data, without the imposition of dark components. The theory was formulated by John Moffat in 2006. In this work, we derive matter-sourced solutions of STVG and construct neutron star models. We aim at exploring STVG predictions about stellar structure in the strong gravity regime. Specifically, we represent spacetime with a static, spherically symmetric manifold, and model the stellar matter content with a perfect fluid energy-momentum tensor. We then derive the modified Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff equation in STVG and integrate it for different equations of state. We find that STVG allows heavier neutron stars than General Relativity (GR). Maximum masses depend on a normalized parameter that quantifies the deviation from GR. The theory exhibits unusual predictions for extreme values of this parameter. We conclude that STVG admits suitable spherically symmetric solutions with matter sources, relevant for stellar structure. Since recent determinations of neutron stars masses violate some GR predictions, STVG appears as a viable candidate for a new gravity theory.     

超子耦合常数对混合星性质的影响

用相对论平均场理论描述强子物质, 用NJL模型描述夸克物质研究了超子耦合常数对混合星性质的影响. 结果表明, 随着超子耦合常数的增大, 强子-夸克相变密度变小, 混合相区域的状态方程变硬, 中子星的最大质量及对应的半径变大. 超子耦合常数由0.73增到1.0时, 混合星最大质量由1.68M_⊙增至1.84M_⊙, 相应的半径由11.4km变到12.5km. 该夸克模型下不同强子参数组对应的混合星性质也有较明显的差异. 可知, 其适合于描述大质量而小夸克核心的混合星.     

A new nodal expansion for classical plasmas

In calculating the equation of state for plasmas we find that diagrammatic expansions for the free energy become unwieldy at high density. At best, many terms must be retained in order to obtain meaningful results. We present a new expansion technique which can be applied to plasmas in the interiors of Jupiter and white dwarf stars. In such cases the older techniques are unsatisfactory because of the size of the ion coupling parameter. Our work yields expansions for which this parameter is supplanted by ion correlation functions, which can be supplied by external computations. In this paper we assume a two-species plasma of classical particles, thereby focusing on combinatorial techniques. The final result is a new nodal expansion in terms of ion correlation functions and an electron coupling parameter.     

Neutron stars in relativistic hadron-quark models

Neutron star properties are computed in relativistic models that contain both hadron and quark degrees of freedom. Neutron matter is assumed to have a low-density phase described by quantum hadrodynamics (QHD) and a high-density phase described by quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Several different QHD models and approximations are employed; all use parameters that reproduce the binding energy and density of equilibrium nuclear matter. Calculated neutron star properties depend primarily on the high-density equation of state and cannot be inferred from the symmetry energy or compressibility of equilibrium nuclear matter. If interactions are neglected in the QCD phase, the density of the hadron-quark phase transition is determined by one free parameters, which is the energy/volume needed to create a “bubble” that confines the quarks and gluons. Observed neutron star masses do not constrain this parameter, but stable neutron stars with quark cores can exist only for a limited range of parameter values. When second-order gluon-exchange corrections are included in the QCD phase, these conclusions are unchanged, and the parameter values that lead to stable hadronquark stars are restricted even further.     

An equation of state for nuclear and higher-density matter based on relativistic mean-field theory

A model stress tensor for high-density matter based on a linearized relativistic quantum field theory is examined. The two coupling constants are fit to nuclear matter. Other properties of nuclear and neutron matter and neutron stars are then implied.     

The Singularity Problem of Gravitation

We review the present status of the singularity problem in gravitation theory. First we repeat the known results for Einstein's theory. After this, different other gravitation theories are considered under the following aspect: Which of the presumptions leading to singularities in Einstein's theory are not fulfilled, and can this prevent the singularities? In detail: scalar matter fields do not fulfil the positive energy condition, bimetric theories change the gravitational vacuum, theories with torsion and fourth order gravity add new geometric terms. It turns out that the answer is never simply no or yes, but requires new conditions, and new types of singularities occur. Otherwise there exist essential situations where the alternative theories satisfactorily prevent the singular behaviour known from Einstein's theory. Finally, we review on chaotic singularities.     

Strong-Coupled Relativity Without Relativity

GR can be interpreted as a theory of evolving 3-geometries. A recent such formulation, the 3-space approach of Barbour, Foster and Ó'Murchadha, also permits the construction of a limited number of other theories of evolving 3-geometries, including conformal gravity and strong gravity. In this paper, we use the 3-space approach to construct a 1-parameter family of theories which generalize strong gravity. The usual strong gravity is the strong-coupled limit of GR, which is appropriate near singularities and is one of very few regimes of GR which is amenable to quantization. Our new strong gravity theories are similar limits of scalar-tensor theories such as Brans–Dicke theory, and are likewise appropriate near singularities. They represent an extension of the regime amenable to quantization, which furthermore spans two qualitatively different types of inner product.We find that these strong gravity theories permit coupling only to ultralocal matter fields and that they prevent gauge theory. Thus in the classical picture, gauge theory breaks down (rather than undergoing unification) as one approaches the GR initial singularity.     

String theory and cosmological singularities

In general relativity space-like or null singularities are common: they imply that ‘time’ can have a beginning or end. Well-known examples are singularities inside black holes and initial or final singularities in expanding or contracting universes. In recent times, string theory is providing new perspectives of such singularities which may lead to an understanding of these in the standard framework of time evolution in quantum mechanics. In this article, we describe some of these approaches.      

Infrared and pinching singularities in out of equilibrium QCD plasmas

We examine collinear, infrared and pinching singularities in the production of weakly interacting particles from out of equilibrium relativistic plasmas. We show that collinear singularities cancel out in a scalar theory, exactly as at equilibrium. The same result holds in a quark-gluon plasma, provided the matter degrees of freedom are quantized in a physical gauge. However the cancellation does not hold in a covariant gauge; we comment on a possible explanation of this result. Finally we show that pinching singularities give contributions of order g ² δn, where δn is the deviation from equilibrium of the distribution function and g the QCD coupling constant.     

The influence of medium effects on the gross structure of hybrid stars

We investigate the influence of medium effects on the structure of hybrid stars, i.e. neutron stars possessing a quark matter core. We found that medium effects in quark matter reduce the extent of a pure quark matter phase in the interior of a hybrid star significantly in favor of a mixed phase of quark and hadronic matter. Over a wide range of the strong coupling constant — which parameterizes the influence of medium effects — quark matter is able to exist at least in a mixed phase in the interior of neutron stars.     

QCD at finite density and color superconductivity

The paper contains a brief review of recent applications of many-body theory to quark matter. We discuss the progress in theory of dense quark matter during the last two years, especially color superconductivity. We emphasize that there are two basic dynamical reasons for it: short-range forces induced by instantons and long-range ones mediated by exchanges of magnetic gluons. For quark matter which is supposed to be found in neutron stars, both lead to superconducting gaps on the order of 100 MeV. The most surprising facts are the rather impressive richness of different phases and their robustness in respect to variation of the fundamental interaction.     

模型参数对奇异星性质的影响

用有效质量口袋模型描述奇异夸克物质,研究了耦合常数和口袋常数的选取对奇异夸克物质的状态方程及奇异星性质的影响.结果表明,随着耦合常数和口袋常数的增大,奇异夸克物质的状态方程变软,相应的奇异星的引力质量和对应的半径均变小.当耦合常数从0.5增大到2.0时,奇异星的质量从1.43M_⊙(M_⊙=1.99×10³⁰ kg)减小到1.25M_⊙,相应的半径由8.3 km减小到7.7 km;当口袋常数B^1/4由160 MeV增大到175 MeV时,奇异星的质量和半径分别由1.47M_⊙和8.6 km减小到1.22M_⊙和7.4 km.这说明奇异夸克物质及奇异星的性质明显依赖于模型参数的取值. 关键词： 模型参数 奇异星 状态方程 质量-半径关系     

Bose-Einstein condensation of anti-kaons and neutron star twins

We investigate the role of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of anti-kaons on the equation of state (EoS) and other properties of compact stars. In the framework of relativistic mean field model we determine the EoS for β-stable hyperon matter and compare it to the situation when anti-kaons condense in the system. We observe that anti-kaon condensates soften the EoS, thereby lowering the maximum mass of the stars. We also demonstrate that the presence of antikaon condensates in the high density core of compact stars may lead to a new mass sequence beyond white dwarf and neutron stars. The limiting mass of the new sequence stars is nearly equal to that of neutron star branch though they have distinctly different radii and compositions. They are called neutron star twins.     

The confrontation of no-scale supergravity with cosmology

We present a number of exact cosmological solutions in the SU(1, 1)/U(1) “no-scale” theory of supergravity. We show that the auxiliary superfield acts as a negative stress and this permits the existence of a wide class of solutions which avoid the singularities that appear in the cosmological models of general relativity. However, by way of compensation, the dilation field always evolves so as to alter the sign of the coupling of matter to gravity in the vicinity of any expansion minimum or singularity. Moreover, the coupling of the dilation to any conventional matter sources present in the universe which is imposed by the theory does not appear to permit either power-law or exponential inflation to take place. The evolution of the mean expansion scale-factor is controlled by the auxiliary field density rather than by any conventional matter or inflaton fields present in the universe. These results indicate that classical “no-scale” supergravity theory (or at least its SU(1,1)/U(1) bosonic incarnation) may not provide acceptable models of the early universe.     

Universal procedure to cure future singularities of dark energy models

A systematic search for different viable models of the dark energy universe, all of which give rise to finite-time, future singularities, is undertaken, with the purpose to try to find a solution to this common problem. After some work, a universal procedure to cure all future singularities is developed and carefully tested with the help of explicit examples corresponding to each one of the four different types of possible singularities, as classified in the literature. The cases of a fluid with an equation of state which depends on some parameter, of modified gravity non-minimally coupled to a matter Lagrangian, of non-local gravity, and of isotropic turbulence in a dark fluid universe theory are investigated in detail.     

Influence of medium effects on the rotating hybrid stars

A hybrid star with a pure quark core,a hadron crust and a mixed phase between the two is considered.The relativistic mean field model for hadron matter and the effective mass bag model for quark matter are used to construct the equation of state for hybrid stars.The influences of medium effects that are parameterized by the strong coupling constant have been discussed on the configuration of rotating stars.The strong coupling constant is a prominent factor that influences the properties of rotating hybrid stars.     

Quark deconfinement in neutron star cores

Whether or not the deconfined quark phase exists in neutron star cores is an open question. We use two realistic effective quark models, the three-flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model and the modified quark-meson coupling model, to describe the neutron star matter. We show that the modified quark-meson coupling model, which is fixed by reproducing the saturation properties of nuclear matter, can be consistent with the experimental constraints from nuclear collisions. After constructing possible hybrid equations of state (EOSes) with an unpaired or color superconducting quark phase with the assumption of the sharp hadron-quark phase transition, we discuss the observational constraints from neutron stars on the EOSes. It is found that the neutron star with pure quark matter core is unstable and the hadronic phase with hyperons is denied, while hybrid EOSes with a two-flavor color superconducting phase or unpaired quark matter phase are both allowed by the tight and most reliable constraints from two stars Ter 5 I and EXO 0748-676. And the hybrid EOS with an unpaired quark matter phase is allowed even compared with the tightest constraint from the most massive pulsar star PSR J0751+1807.     

Properties of quark matter in a new quasiparticle model with QCD running coupling

The running of the QCD coupling in the effective mass causes thermodynamic inconsistency problem in the conventional quasiparticle model. We provide a novel treatment which removes the inconsistency by an effective bag constant. The chemical potential dependence of the renormalization subtraction point is constrained by the Cauchy condition in the chemical potential space. The stability and microscopic properties of strange quark matter are then studied within the completely self-consistent quasiparticle model, and the obtained equation of state of quark matter is applied to the investigation of strange stars. It is found that our improved model can describe well compact stars with mass about two times the solar mass, which indicates that such massive compact stars could be strange stars.     

(Non)-Abelian gauge field theories of the Fermi gas. Neutron-quark stars

It is indicated that the ground state of Fermi systems with (non)-Abelian gauge interactions has a well defined quantum theory devoid of infrared divergences and mass singularities. This is exploited to develop a systematic quantum theory of the quark gas. The equation of state of the quark gas is evaluated up to second order in the Gell-Mann-Low charge α_S(μ). The analysis based on neutron matter models suggests that the matter in the neutron stars can be in the quark phase provided the color interaction is “moderately” strong i.e. α_S (3 GeV) ? 0.3.