Gravitational Higgs Mechanism in Neutron Star Interiors

TL;DR

This paper explores how nonminimally coupled scalar fields can modify neutron star interior physics, potentially generating photon mass through scalarization in scalar-tensor gravity theories.

Contribution

It introduces models where scalar fields induce photon mass in neutron stars, highlighting a novel gravitational mechanism affecting microphysics in dense environments.

Findings

Scalarization phase transition occurs in neutron star models.

Photon mass can be generated in high-density environments.

Phenomenological implications for astrophysics are discussed.

Abstract

We suggest that nonminimally coupled scalar fields can lead to modifications of the microphysics in the interiors of relativistic stars. As a concrete example, we consider the generation of a non-zero photon mass in such high-density environments. This is achieved by means of a light gravitational scalar, and the scalarization phase transition in scalar-tensor theories of gravitation. Two distinct models are presented, and phenomenological implications are briefly discussed.