The Case for Astrons

TL;DR

This paper explores the theoretical properties and cosmological implications of primordial, highly charged compact objects called astrons, analyzing their formation, behavior, and potential observational signatures.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of astrons with specific parameters, examines their physical regimes, and discusses their possible role in cosmology beyond homogeneous models.

Findings

Large charge prevents formation from ordinary accretion saturation.

Astrons could influence early universe structure formation.

Homogeneous models do not produce late-time acceleration.

Abstract

We examine a proposed population of primordial, electrically charged compact objects, which we call astrons, with fiducial parameters \(M_A\sim10^{12}M_\odot\), \(Q_A\sim4\times10^{32}\,\mathrm{C}\), and megaparsec-scale separations. We analyze charge generation, ordinary accretion saturation, charge persistence in an ionized medium, plasma screening, the Reissner--Nordstr\"om and Kerr--Newman geometric regimes, lensing, and the possible use of Lyman-\(\alpha\) absorption as a probe of astron electric fields, and the cosmological interpretation of a sparse charged population. The large-charge branch is not obtained from ordinary accretion saturation; it should be treated as a primordial or early-universe charge-concentration hypothesis. A horizon-mass estimate places a \(10^{12}M_\odot\) primordial object at times of order months after the Big Bang, so any relation to the early structures observed by the James Webb Space Telescope would be indirect, through later baryonic assembly around dark seeds. The main constraints are severe: plasma screening and neutralization must be avoided, the fiducial charge drives the exterior into a super-extremal regime without a Reissner--Nordstr\"om photon sphere, and the homogeneous interaction energy of a charged population scales as \(a^{-4}\). Thus the simplest FLRW perfect-fluid reduction does not generate asymptotic late-time acceleration. Any viable cosmological role for astrons must instead come from a controlled inhomogeneous Einstein--Maxwell averaging problem beyond the homogeneous approximation.