Maximum Baryon Masses for Static Neutron Stars in $f(R)$ Gravity

Understand

We investigate the upper mass limit predictions of the baryonic mass for static neutron stars in the context of $f(R)$ gravity.

• We use the most popular $f(R)$ gravity model, namely the $R^2$ gravity, and calculate the maximum baryon mass of static neutron stars adopting several realistic equations of state and one ideal equation of state, namely that of causal limit.
• Our motivation is based on the fact that neutron stars with baryon masses larger than the maximum mass for static neutron star configurations inevitably collapse to black holes.
• Thus with our analysis, we want further to enlighten the predictions for the maximum baryon masses of static neutron stars in $R^2$ gravity, which, in turn, further strengthens our understanding of the mysterious mass-gap region.