In the realm of theoretical physics and astrophysics, researchers are continually pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe. Among these explorers is Bo-Xuan Ge, a researcher affiliated with the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, who has been delving into the intriguing world of massive boson stars.
Boson stars are hypothetical, compact objects that could potentially form from the condensation of ultra-light bosonic particles. In a recent study, Ge investigated the behavior of quartically self-interacting massive boson stars, focusing on their equilibrium sequences, stability, and the outcomes of their head-on collisions.
Ge constructed equilibrium sequences of these boson stars, examining the relationship between their mass and central field amplitude. The mass curve along these sequences exhibited multiple extrema, but stability changes were only observed at the first maximum. Configurations beyond this point became highly compact and prone to collapse under numerically induced perturbations. Interestingly, near-critical models displayed a short-lived double-dive behavior, adding a layer of complexity to the dynamics of these objects.
The study also explored the outcomes of head-on collisions between equal-mass boson stars. Three distinct outcomes were identified: the formation of a boson star remnant, black hole formation at the point of contact, and the collapse of each star into a black hole prior to contact. The gravitational-wave energies associated with these collisions reflected a competition between increasing compactness and decreasing tidal deformability. Notably, at large self-interaction strengths, the collapse-before-contact branch exhibited a pronounced non-monotonic structure.
The simulations conducted in this research have generated a substantial catalogue of initial conditions and waveforms. This data provides a natural basis for neural-network techniques aimed at improving boson star initial data and constructing surrogate models. These models could rapidly predict gravitational-wave signals across an extended parameter space, potentially offering valuable insights for the energy sector, particularly in the context of gravitational-wave energy harvesting and detection technologies.
The research was published in the journal Physical Review D, contributing to the ongoing efforts to unravel the mysteries of the universe and harness its potential for innovative energy solutions. As our understanding of these exotic objects deepens, so too does our potential to leverage their unique properties for the benefit of the energy industry.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.