Moduli stars

• Main Authors: Sven Krippendorf, Francesco Muia, Fernando Quevedo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2018-08-01
• Series: Journal of High Energy Physics
• Subjects: Phenomenology of Field Theories in Higher Dimensions; Strings and branes phenomenology
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/JHEP08(2018)070

Abstract We explore the possibility that (Bose-Einstein) condensation of scalar fields from string compactifications can lead to long-lived compact objects. Depending on the type of scalar fields we find different realisations of star-like and solitonic objects. We illustrate in the framework of type IIB string compactifications that closed string moduli can lead to heavy microscopic stars with masses of order VαMPlanck $$ {\mathcal{V}}^{\alpha }{M}_{\mathrm{Planck}} $$, α = 1, 3/2, 5/3 where V $$ \mathcal{V} $$ is the volume of the extra dimensions. Macroscopic compact objects from ultra-light string axions are realised with masses of order eV2/3 $$ {e}^{\mathcal{V}2/3} $$ M Planck . Q-ball configurations can be obtained from open string moduli whereas the closed string sector gives rise to a new class of solutions, named PQ-balls, that arise in the two-field axion-modulus system. The stability, the potential for the formation, and the observability of moduli stars through gravitational waves are discussed. In particular we point out that during the early matter phase given by moduli domination, density perturbations grow by a factor Vβ $$ {\mathcal{V}}^{\beta } $$ with β > 2 and non-linear effects cannot be neglected.