Neutron stars in scalar-tensor theories of gravity and catastrophe theory

Tomohiro Harada
Phys. Rev. D 57, 4802 – Published 15 April 1998
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Abstract

We investigate neutron stars in scalar-tensor theories. We examine their secular stability against spherically symmetric perturbations by use of a turning point method. For some choices of the coupling function contained in the theories, the number of the stable equilibrium solutions changes and the realized equilibrium solution may change discontinuously as the asymptotic value of the scalar field or total baryon number is changed continuously. The behavior of the stable equilibrium solutions is explained by fold and cusp catastrophes. Whether or not the cusp catastrophe appears depends on the choice of the coupling function. These types of catastrophes are structurally stable. Recently discovered spontaneous scalarization, which is a nonperturbative strong-field phenomenon due to the presence of the gravitational scalar field, is well described in terms of the cusp catastrophe.

  • Received 21 October 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.57.4802

©1998 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Tomohiro Harada*

  • Department of Physics, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-01, Japan

  • *Email address: harada@tap.scphys.kyoto-u.ac.jp

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Vol. 57, Iss. 8 — 15 April 1998

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