Weak interactions and the gravitational collapse

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new class of ultra-compact objects stabilized by weak force interactions, expanding the traditional neutron star model with a hypothetical branch of dense, weak-charge-dominated objects.

Contribution

It introduces the theoretical possibility of stable, weak-force-supported compact objects with specific mass and size characteristics, extending the astrophysical classification of dense matter.

Findings

Weak interactions could dominate at ultrahigh densities in gravitational collapse.

Such objects could have masses around 10^-3 solar masses and radii of a few meters.

They may realize Zeldovich's equation of state for dense matter.

Abstract

The chart of nuclei could be enlarged with a branch describing neutron stars that are huge nuclei of a few solar masses held together by gravity force and sustained by the pressure due to the degenerate Fermi sea. We contend in this manuscript that yet another branch could be added: objects with a large weak charge, with masses around $10^{-3}$ solar masses and having radii of a few meters, very compact, only slightly larger than their Schwarzchild radius, and sustained by the pressure generated by the weak force due to $Z$ exchange. This interaction, insignificant in normal neutron stars, could become dominant when ultrahigh densities are reached due to the action of gravity and lead to stable configurations if the appropriate conditions are met. They would constitute a physical realization of the equation of state proposed by Zeldovich some decades ago.