Dynamical Scalarization during Neutron Star Mergers in scalar-Gauss-Bonnet Theory

Understand

In certain classes of the scalar-Gauss-Bonnet theory strong spacetime curvature in the vicinity of neutron stars and black holes can spontaneously trigger scalarization in the compact object if the coupling strength of the scalar field to the Gauss-Bonnet invariant exceeds a critical value.

• Specifying on neutron stars, this threshold depends on the mass and equation of state.
• The presence of a companion will further influence the required coupling strength for scalarization, and thus, a stable hair can be installed at a lower magnitude of coupling for those neutron stars as members of binaries.
• Focusing on binary neutron star mergers, we investigate this latter dynamically-driven scalarization, and find that the reduction in the threshold coupling strength seems to be more profound for symmetric binaries, while the threshold is only marginally reduced for rather asymmetric binaries.