Spontaneous scalarization of neutron stars in teleparallel gravity with derivative torsional coupling

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Kehal, Youcef, Nouicer, Khireddine
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Kehal, Youcef
Nouicer, Khireddine
author_facet Kehal, Youcef
Nouicer, Khireddine
contents We study neutron star configurations in a teleparallel gravity model featuring a scalar field coupled to both matter and torsion. In the Einstein frame, the theory includes a derivative coupling between the scalar field and the torsion vector, together with a conformal matter coupling \(A(ϕ)=\exp(βϕ^{2}/2)\). Static and slowly rotating neutron-star solutions are constructed for realistic equations of state, focusing on the APR and MS1 equations of state. Scalarized solutions appear only within a finite range of central densities and correspond to localized deviations from the general-relativistic mass--radius and mass--central-density relations. The onset and extent of scalarization depend on the equation of state and on the strength of the derivative torsional interaction, which can either enhance or suppress scalarization relative to the general-relativistic scalarized branch. At high central densities, scalarization is quenched and the solutions approach the general-relativistic limit, remaining bounded even for strong torsional couplings. No scalarized solutions are found in the absence of matter coupling (\(β=0\)). The normalized scalar charge follows trends consistent with the global mass relations, indicating an intermediate scalarized regime suppressed at high compactness. For slowly rotating stars, the moment of inertia depends systematically on the torsional coupling and the equation of state, with stiffer equations yielding larger values. These results highlight the potential of neutron-star radius and rotational measurements to test teleparallel scalarization scenarios.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_22522
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Spontaneous scalarization of neutron stars in teleparallel gravity with derivative torsional coupling
Kehal, Youcef
Nouicer, Khireddine
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
We study neutron star configurations in a teleparallel gravity model featuring a scalar field coupled to both matter and torsion. In the Einstein frame, the theory includes a derivative coupling between the scalar field and the torsion vector, together with a conformal matter coupling \(A(ϕ)=\exp(βϕ^{2}/2)\). Static and slowly rotating neutron-star solutions are constructed for realistic equations of state, focusing on the APR and MS1 equations of state. Scalarized solutions appear only within a finite range of central densities and correspond to localized deviations from the general-relativistic mass--radius and mass--central-density relations. The onset and extent of scalarization depend on the equation of state and on the strength of the derivative torsional interaction, which can either enhance or suppress scalarization relative to the general-relativistic scalarized branch. At high central densities, scalarization is quenched and the solutions approach the general-relativistic limit, remaining bounded even for strong torsional couplings. No scalarized solutions are found in the absence of matter coupling (\(β=0\)). The normalized scalar charge follows trends consistent with the global mass relations, indicating an intermediate scalarized regime suppressed at high compactness. For slowly rotating stars, the moment of inertia depends systematically on the torsional coupling and the equation of state, with stiffer equations yielding larger values. These results highlight the potential of neutron-star radius and rotational measurements to test teleparallel scalarization scenarios.
title Spontaneous scalarization of neutron stars in teleparallel gravity with derivative torsional coupling
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.22522