Signatures Of Scalar Photon Interaction In Astrophysical Situations

TL;DR

This paper investigates how photon-scalar interactions, predicted by unified theories, affect the polarization and spectrum of emissions from magnetized compact stars like white dwarfs and neutron stars.

Contribution

It models photon propagation with scalar interactions in stellar environments and explores their impact on emission spectra and polarization signatures.

Findings

Photon-scalar coupling induces optical activity in stellar media.

Possible modifications to emission spectra due to scalar interactions.

Implications for polarimetric observations of compact stars.

Abstract

Dimension-5 photon ($\gamma$) scalar ($\phi$) interaction terms usually appear in the Lagrangian of bosonic sector of unified theories of electromagnetism and gravity. This interaction makes the medium dichoric and induces optical activity. We have modelled the propagation of photons with this interaction in the environment of cold a magnetized compact star (White Dwarf (WD) or Neutron Star (NS)), assuming synchro-curvature process as the dominant mechanism of emission. We have tried to outline the polarimetric implications of photon-scalar coupling on the produced spectrum of these emissions in the stellar atmosphere. Further more assuming the 'emission-energy vs emission-altitude' relation, that is believed to hold in such (i.e. cold magnetized WD or NS) environments, we have tried to point out the possible modifications to the radiation spectrum when the same is incorporated along with dim-5 photon scalar mixing operator.