Maximum mass of a cold compact star

TL;DR

This paper derives bounds on the maximum mass of cold compact stars using the Vaidya-Tikekar model, which simplifies the process and does not require prior EOS knowledge, aligning with observed star features.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic method to estimate maximum star mass bounds without prior EOS assumptions, improving upon previous approaches.

Findings

Bounds on maximum mass are comparable or more restrictive than earlier results.

The model describes features of observed very compact stars.

Equations of state are determined for the model.

Abstract

We calculate the maximum mass of the class of compact stars described by Vaidya-Tikekar \cite{VT01} model. The model permits a simple method of systematically fixing bounds on the maximum possible mass of cold compact stars with a given value of radius or central density or surface density. The relevant equations of state are also determined. Although simple, the model is capable of describing the general features of the recently observed very compact stars. For the calculation, no prior knowledge of the equation of state (EOS) is required. This is in contrast to the earlier calculations for maximum mass which were done by choosing first the relevant EOSs and using those to solve the TOV equation with appropriate boundary conditions. The bounds obtained by us are comparable and, in some cases, more restrictive than the earlier results.