arXiv subjects

Daniela D. Doneva

Publications and source records attributed to Daniela D. Doneva.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Static and slowly rotating neutron stars in scalar-tensor theory with self-interacting massive scalar field

Binary pulsar observations and gravitational wave detections seriously constrained scalar-tensor theories with massless scalar field allowing only small deviations from general relativity. If we consider a nonzero mass of the scalar field, though, significant deviations from general relativity are allowed for values of the parameters that are in agreement with the observations. In the present paper we extend this idea and we study scalar-tensor theory with massive field with self-interaction term in the potential. The additional term suppresses the scalar field in the neutron star models in addition to the effect of the mass of the scalar field but still, large deviations from pure GR can be observed for values of the parameters that are in agreement with the observations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Radial perturbations of the scalarized EGB black holes

Recently a new class of scalarized black holes in Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet (EGB) theories was discovered. What is special for these black hole solutions is that the scalarization is not due to the presence of matter, but {it is induced} by the curvature of spacetime itself. Moreover, more than one branch of scalarized solutions can bifurcate from the Schwarzschild branch, and these scalarized branches are characterized by the number of nodes of the scalar field. The next step is to consider the linear stability of these solutions, which is particularly important due to the fact that the Schwarzschild black holes lose stability at the first point of bifurcation. Therefore we here study in detail the radial perturbations of the scalarized EGB black holes. The results show that all branches with a nontrivial scalar field with one or more nodes are unstable. The stability of the solutions on the fundamental branch, whose scalar field has no radial nodes, depends on the particular choice of the coupling function between the scalar field and the Gauss-Bonnet invariant. We consider two particular cases based on the previous studies of the background solutions. If this coupling has the form used in \cite{Doneva:2017bvd} the fundamental branch of solutions is stable, except for very small masses. In the case of a coupling function quadratic in the scalar field \cite{Silva:2017uqg}, though, the whole fundamental branch is unstable.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Axial quasi-normal modes of neutron stars in $R^2$ gravity

In the present paper the axial quasi-normal modes of neutron stars in $f(R)$ gravity are examined using a large set of equations of state. The numerical calculations are made using two different approaches -- performing time evolution of the perturbation equations and solving the time-independent representation of the equations as a boundary value problem. According to the results the mode frequencies and the damping times decrease with the increase of the free parameter of the theory in comparison to the pure general relativistic case. While the frequencies deviate significantly from Einstein's theory for all realistic neutron star masses (say above $1M_\odot$), the damping times reach non-negligible differences only for the more massive models. We have constructed as well universal (equation of state independent) gravitational wave asteroseismology relations involving the frequencies and the damping times. It turns out that the equation of state independence is preserved using the same normalization as in pure general relativity and the qualitative differences of the phenomenological relations with respect to Einstein's theory of gravity can be large for large values of the free parameter in $f(R)$ gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Tidal Love numbers of neutron stars in $f(R)$ gravity

The recent detection of gravitational waves from a neutron star merger was a significant step towards constraining the nuclear matter equation of state by using the tidal Love numbers (TLNs) of the merging neutron stars. Measuring or constraining the neutron star TLNs allows us in principle to exclude or constraint many equations of state. This approach, however, has the drawback that many modified theories of gravity could produce deviations from General Relativity similar to the deviations coming from the uncertainties in the equation of state. The first and the most natural step in resolving the mentioned problem is to quantify the effects on the TLNs from the modifications of General Relativity. With this motivation in mind, in the present paper we calculate the TLNs of (non-rotating) neutron stars in $f(R)$ gravity. For this purpose, we first derived the equations describing both the polar and the axial stationary perturbations of neutron stars in a particular class of $f(R)$ gravity, the so-called $R^2$-gravity. Then, by solving numerically the perturbation equations, we calculate explicitly the polar and the axial $l=2$ TLNs of the neutron stars in $R^2$-gravity for three characteristic realistic equations of state. Our results show that while the polar TLNs are slightly influenced by the $R^2$ modification of General Relativity, the axial TLNs can be several times larger (in terms of the absolute value) compared to the general relativistic case.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Neutron star solutions with curvature induced scalarization in the extended Gauss-Bonnet scalar-tensor theories

In the present paper we study models of neutron stars in a class of extended scalar-tensor Gauss-Bonnet (ESTGB) theories for which the scalar degree of freedom is exited only in the strong curvature regime. We show that in the framework of the ESTGB theories under consideration there exist new neutron star solutions which are formed via spontaneous scalarization of the general relativistic neutron stars. In contrast to the spontaneous scalarization in the standard scalar-tensor theories which is induced by the presence of matter, in our case the scalarization is induced by the spacetime curvature.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

New Gauss-Bonnet black holes with curvature induced scalarization in the extended scalar-tensor theories

In the present paper we consider a class of extended scalar-tensor-Gauss-Bonnet (ESTGB) theories for which the scalar degree of freedom is excited only in the extreme curvature regime. We show that in the mentioned class of ESTGB theories there exist new black hole solutions which are formed by spontaneous scalarization of the Schwarzaschild balck holes in the extreme curvature regime. In this regime, below certain mass, the Schwarzschild solution becomes unstable and new branch of solutions with nontrivial scalar field bifurcate from the Schwarzschild one. As a matter of fact, more than one branches with nontrivial scalar field can bifurcate at different masses but only the first one is supposed to be stable. This effect is quite similar to the spontaneous scalarization of neutron stars. In contrast with the standard spontaneous scalarization of neutron stars which is induced by the presence of matter, in our case the scalarization is induced by the curvature of the spacetime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Universal Relations and Alternative Gravity Theories

This is a review with the ambitious goal of covering the recent progress in: 1) universal relations (in general relativity and alternative theories of gravity), and 2) neutron star models in alternative theories. We also aim to be complementary to recent reviews in the literature that are covering the topic of universal relations of neutron stars.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Oscillation modes of rapidly rotating neutron stars in scalar-tensor theories of gravity

We perform the first study of the oscillation frequencies of rapidly rotating neutron stars in alternative theories of gravity, focusing mainly on the fundamental $f$-modes. We concentrated on a particular class of alternative theories - the (massive) scalar-tensor theories. The generalization to rapid rotation is important because on one hand the rapid rotation can magnify the deviations from general relativity compared to the static case and on the other hand some of the most efficient emitters of gravitational radiation, such as the binary neutron star merger remnants, are supposed to be rotating close to their Kepler (mass-shedding) limits shortly after their formation. We have constructed several sequences of models starting from the nonrotating case and reaching up to the Kepler limit, with different values of the scalar-tensor theory coupling constant and the scalar field mass. The results show that the deviations from pure Einstein's theory can be significant especially in the case of nonzero scalar field mass. An important property of the oscillation modes of rapidly rotating stars is that they can become secularly unstable due to the emission of gravitational radiation, that is so-called Chandrasekhar-Friedman-Schutz instability. Such unstable modes are efficient emitters of gravitational radiation. Our studies show that the inclusion of nonzero scalar field would decrease the threshold value of the normalized angular momentum where this instability stars to operate, but the growth time of the instability seems to be increased compared to pure general relativity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Rapidly rotating neutron stars with a massive scalar field - structure and universal relations

We construct rapidly rotating neutron star models in scalar-tensor theories with a massive scalar field. The fact that the scalar field has nonzero mass leads to very interesting results since the allowed range of values of the coupling parameters is significantly broadened. These deviations from pure general relativity can be very large for values of the parameters that are in agreement with the observations. The rapid rotation can magnify the differences several times compared to the static case. The universal relations between the normalized moment of inertia and quadrupole moment are also investigated both for the slowly and rapidly rotating cases. The results show that these relations are still EOS independent up to a large extend and the deviations from pure general relativity can be large. This places the massive scalar-tensor theories amongst the few alternative theories of gravity that can be tested via the universal $I$-Love-$Q$ relations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Accretion disks around neutron and strange stars in $\mathcal{R}^2$ gravity

We study the electromagnetic spectrum of accretion disks around neutron and strange stars in $\mathcal{R}^2$ gravity. Both static and rapidly rotating models are investigated. The results are compared with the General Relativistic results. We found difference between the results in both theories of about 50\% for the electromagnetic flux and about 20\% in the luminosity for models with equal mass and angular velocity in both theories. The observed differences are much lower for models rotating with Kelperian velocity and with equal masses.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Slowly rotating neutron stars in scalar-tensor theories with a massive scalar field

In the scalar-tensor theories with a massive scalar field the coupling constants, and the coupling functions in general, which are observationally allowed, can differ significantly from those in the massless case. This fact naturally implies that the scalar-tensor neutron stars with a massive scalar field can have rather different structure and properties in comparison with their counterparts in the massless case and in general relativity. In the present paper we study slowly rotating neutron stars in scalar-tensor theories with a massive gravitational scalar. Two examples of scalar-tensor theories are examined - the first example is the massive Brans-Dicke theory and the second one is a massive scalar-tensor theory indistinguishable from general relativity in the weak field limit. In the later case we study the effect of the scalar field mass on the spontaneous scalarization of neutron stars. Our numerical results show that the inclusion of a mass term for the scalar field indeed changes the picture drastically compared to the massless case. It turns out that mass, radius and moment of inertia for neutron stars in massive scalar-tensor theories can differ drastically from the pure general relativistic solutions if sufficiently large masses of the scalar field are considered.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Moment of inertia -- compactness universal relations in scalar-tensor theories and $\mathcal{R}^2$ gravity

We are investigating universal relations between different normalisations of the moment of inertia and the compactness of neutron and strange stars. Slowly rotating as well as rapidly rotating models are studied in General Relativity, $\mathcal{R}^2$ gravity and scalar--tensor theories of gravity. Moment of inertia -- compactness relations are examined for different normalisations of the moment of inertia. It is shown that for all studied cases the deviations from EOS universality are small for the examined equations of state. It turns out that in some of the cases the examined relations are also theory independent to a good extent. Universality in relations between the maximum mass and the moment of inertia for some unstable models is also investigated.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Comment on "The Mass-Radius relation for Neutron Stars in $f(R)$ gravity" by S. Capozziello, M. De Laurentis, R. Farinelli and S. Odintsov

In the present comment we discuss the qualitative and the quantitative differences between the neutron stars models in $f(R)$ gravity presented in the recent paper \cite{Capozziello2015} (Capozziello et al. (2015)) and in our paper \cite{Yazadjiev2014} (Yazadjiev et al. (2014)). The authors of \cite{Capozziello2015} claim that these differences come from the fact that they are using the physical Jordan frame while we are working in the Einstein frame. The results in \cite{Yazadjiev2014} are very well tested by two numerical codes using different formulations of the field equations that give us the confidence that they are correct. Thus we decided to perform an additional test. Namely, we derive the relevant set of field equations in the Jordan frame and solve them numerically in order to disprove the claim in \cite{Capozziello2015} that the difference comes from the use of different frame. The obtained results are in perfect agreement with our previous work \cite{Yazadjiev2014} and therefore the numerical results in \cite{Capozziello2015} seem to be incorrect. At the end we point out several possible sources of error in \cite{Capozziello2015} that can lead to the observed large deviations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Orbital and epicyclic frequencies around neutron and strange stars in $R^2$ gravity

According to various models, the orbital and the epicyclic frequencies of particles moving on a circular orbit around compact objects are related to the quasi-periodic oscillations observed in the X-ray flux of some pulsars or black hole candidates. It is expected that they originate from the inner edge of the accretion discs, deep into the gravitational field of the compact objects. Considering the planned new generation X-ray timing observatories with large collective areas, the quasi-periodic oscillations might be an excellent tool for testing gravity in strong field regime and respectively alternative gravitational theories. We examine the orbital and the epicyclic frequencies of a particle moving on a circular orbit around neutron or strange stars in $R^2$ gravity. The case of slow rotation is considered too. The $R^2$ gravity results are compared to the General Relativistic case. We comment the deviations from General Relativity, as well as the deviations due to rotation in both theories.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

A gravitational wave afterglow in binary neutron star mergers

We study in detail the f-mode secular instability for rapidly rotating neutron stars, putting emphasis on supermassive models which do not have a stable nonrotating counterpart. Such neutron stars are thought to be the generic outcome of the merger of two standard mass neutron stars. In addition we take into account the effects of strong magnetic field and r-mode instability, that can drain a substantial amount of angular momentum. We find that the gravitational wave signal emitted by supramassive neutron stars can reach above the Advance LIGO sensitivity at distance of about 20Mpc and the detectability is substantially enhanced for the Einstein Telescope. The event rate will be of the same order as the merging rates, while the analysis of the signal will carry information for the equation of state of the post-merging neutron stars and the strength of the magnetic fields.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Asteroseismology of rapidly rotating neutron stars - an alternative approach

In the present paper we examine gravitational wave asteroseismology relations for f-modes of rapidly rotating neutron stars. An approach different to the previous studies is employed - first, the moment of inertia is used instead of the stellar radius, and second, the normalization of the oscillation frequencies and damping times is different. It was shown that in the non-rotating case this can lead to a much stronger equation of state independence and our goal is to generalize the static relations to the rapidly rotating case and values of the spherical mode number $l\ge2$. We employ realistic equations of state that cover a very large range of stiffness in order to check better the universality of the relations. At the end we explore the inverse problem, i.e. obtain the neutron star parameters from the observed gravitational frequencies and damping times. It turns out that with this new set of relations we can solve the inverse problem with a very good accuracy using three frequencies that was not possible in the previous studies where one needs also the damping times. The asteroseismology relations are also particularly good for the massive rapidly rotating models that are subject to secular instabilities.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

The I-Q relations for rapidly rotating neutron stars in $f(R)$ gravity

In the present paper we study the behavior of the normalized $I$-$Q$ relation for neutron stars in a particular class of $f(R)$ theories of gravity, namely the $R^2$ gravity that is one of the most natural and simplest extensions of general relativity in the strong field regime. We study both the slowly and rapidly rotating cases. The results show that the $I$-$Q$ relation remain nearly equation of state independent for fixed values of the normalized rotational parameter, but the deviations from universality can be a little bit larger compared to the general relativistic case. What is the most interesting in our studies, is that the differences with the pure Einstein's theory can be large reaching above 20\%. This is qualitative different from the majority of alternative theories of gravity, where the normalized $I$-$Q$ relations are almost indistinguishable from the general relativistic case, and can lead to observational constraints on the $f(R)$ theories in the future.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Gravitational wave asteroseismology of neutron and strange stars in $R^2$ gravity

We study the oscillations of neutron and strange stars in $R^2$ gravity. More precisely the nonradial $f$-modes are examined and the differences with pure general relativity are investigated. Using these results we build several gravitational wave asteroseismology relations. Our goal is to determine up to what extend these relations are equation of state independent and whether they deviate enough from general relativity in order to produce an observable effect. The results show that the differences coming from $R^2$ gravity are up to 10\% and that will be difficult to be observed in the near future. On the other hand the small deviations in some of the asteroseismology relations show that they are not only equation of state independent, but they are also quite insensitive to the gravitational theory. That is why solving the inverse problem can give us quite robust estimates of the neutron star parameters.

gr-qc↗