On Modified Dispersion Relations and the Chandrasekhar Mass Limit

Understand

Modified dispersion relations from effective field theory are shown to alter the Chandrasekhar mass limit.

• At exceptionally high densities, the modifications affect the pressure of a degenerate electron gas and can increase or decrease the mass limit, depending on the sign of the modifications.
• These changes to the mass limit are unlikely to be relevant for the astrophysics of white dwarf or neutron stars due to well-known dynamical instabilities that occur at lower densities.
• Generalizations to frameworks other than effective field theory are discussed.