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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.20350 |
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| _version_ | 1866915878082183168 |
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| author | Sahoo, Rajasmita |
| author_facet | Sahoo, Rajasmita |
| contents | In this work, we investigate the equilibrium structure of white dwarfs within the covariant formulation of symmetric teleparallel $f(Q)$ gravity, in which gravity is described by the nonmetricity scalar $Q$ instead of spacetime curvature. We consider static and spherically symmetric stellar configurations composed of cold, fully degenerate electron matter and adopt a quadratic form of the gravitational Lagrangian, $f(Q)=Q+αQ^{2}$, where $α$ quantifies deviations from general relativity. The corresponding modified stellar structure equations are solved numerically in conjunction with the Chandrasekhar equation of state. We examine the impact of the parameter $α$ on the internal structure and global properties of white dwarfs, including the radial profiles of the metric potentials, pressure, density, nonmetricity scalar, and enclosed mass, as well as the mass--radius relation. While negative values of $α$ were explored, they lead to unstable or nonphysical configurations at high densities; therefore, the analysis is restricted to non-negative values of $α$. Our results show that nonmetricity corrections produce significant deviations from the general relativistic predictions in the high-density regime. In particular, increasing $α$ modifies the equilibrium configurations and leads to a reduction in the maximum mass relative to the Chandrasekhar limit, accompanied by corresponding changes in the stellar radius and interior profiles. For $α= 5\times10^{18}\,\mathrm{cm^2}$, we obtain a maximum mass $M_{\max}=1.3519\,M_{\odot}$ and radius $R=2228.85\,\mathrm{km}$, which are consistent with the observational constraints of the ultra-massive white dwarf ZTF J1901+1458. These findings suggest that white dwarfs can provide a complementary astrophysical probe for testing the viability of $f(Q)$ gravity in the strong-field regime. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_20350 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | White Dwarf Structure in $f(Q)$ Gravity Sahoo, Rajasmita General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena In this work, we investigate the equilibrium structure of white dwarfs within the covariant formulation of symmetric teleparallel $f(Q)$ gravity, in which gravity is described by the nonmetricity scalar $Q$ instead of spacetime curvature. We consider static and spherically symmetric stellar configurations composed of cold, fully degenerate electron matter and adopt a quadratic form of the gravitational Lagrangian, $f(Q)=Q+αQ^{2}$, where $α$ quantifies deviations from general relativity. The corresponding modified stellar structure equations are solved numerically in conjunction with the Chandrasekhar equation of state. We examine the impact of the parameter $α$ on the internal structure and global properties of white dwarfs, including the radial profiles of the metric potentials, pressure, density, nonmetricity scalar, and enclosed mass, as well as the mass--radius relation. While negative values of $α$ were explored, they lead to unstable or nonphysical configurations at high densities; therefore, the analysis is restricted to non-negative values of $α$. Our results show that nonmetricity corrections produce significant deviations from the general relativistic predictions in the high-density regime. In particular, increasing $α$ modifies the equilibrium configurations and leads to a reduction in the maximum mass relative to the Chandrasekhar limit, accompanied by corresponding changes in the stellar radius and interior profiles. For $α= 5\times10^{18}\,\mathrm{cm^2}$, we obtain a maximum mass $M_{\max}=1.3519\,M_{\odot}$ and radius $R=2228.85\,\mathrm{km}$, which are consistent with the observational constraints of the ultra-massive white dwarf ZTF J1901+1458. These findings suggest that white dwarfs can provide a complementary astrophysical probe for testing the viability of $f(Q)$ gravity in the strong-field regime. |
| title | White Dwarf Structure in $f(Q)$ Gravity |
| topic | General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.20350 |