Slowly rotating anisotropic neutron stars in general relativity and scalar–tensor theory

Abstract

Some models (such as the Skyrme model, a low-energy effective field theory for quantum chromodynamics) suggest that the high-density matter prevailing in neutron star (NS) interiors may be significantly anisotropic. Anisotropy is known to affect the bulk properties of nonrotating NSs in general relativity (GR). In this paper we study the effects of anisotropy on slowly rotating stars in GR. We also consider one of the most popular extensions of Einstein’s theory, namely scalar–tensor theories allowing for spontaneous scalarization (a phase transition similar to spontaneous magnetization in ferromagnetic materials). Anisotropy affects the moment of inertia of NSs (a quantity that could potentially be measured in binary pulsar systems) in both theories. We find that the effects of scalarization increase (decrease) when the tangential pressure is bigger (smaller) than the radial pressure, and we present a simple criterion to determine the onset of scalarization by linearizing the scalar-field equation. Our calculations suggest that binary pulsar observations may constrain the degree of anisotropy or even, more optimistically, provide evidence for anisotropy in NS cores.