Thermal Radiation from Compact Objects in Curved Space-Time

We highlight here the fact that the distantly observed luminosity of a spherically symmetric compact star radiating thermal radiation isotropically is higher by a factor of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Abhas Mitra, Krishna Kumar Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Series:Universe
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/10/504
_version_ 1797469732256874496
author Abhas Mitra
Krishna Kumar Singh
author_facet Abhas Mitra
Krishna Kumar Singh
author_sort Abhas Mitra
collection DOAJ
description We highlight here the fact that the distantly observed luminosity of a spherically symmetric compact star radiating thermal radiation isotropically is higher by a factor of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> compared to the corresponding flat space-time case, where <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> is the surface gravitational redshift of the compact star. In particular, we emphasize that if the thermal radiation is indeed emitted isotropically along the respective normal directions at each point, this factor of increment <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> remains unchanged even if the compact object would lie within its <i>photon sphere</i>. Since a canonical neutron star has <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo>≈</mo><mn>0.1</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, the actual X-ray luminosity from the neutron star surface could be <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>∼</mo><mn>20</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> higher than what would be interpreted by ignoring the general relativistic effects described here. For a static compact object, supported by only isotropic pressure, compactness is limited by the Buchdahl limit <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo><</mo><mn>2.0</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. However, for compact objects supported by anisotropic pressure, <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> could be even higher (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo><</mo><mn>5.211</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>). In addition, in principle, there could be ultra-compact objects having <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo>≫</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Accordingly, the general relativistic effects described here might be quite important for studies of thermal radiation from some ultra-compact objects.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T19:25:19Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d51ee98833604e5ab7f27b50fc43c7ca
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2218-1997
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T19:25:19Z
publishDate 2022-09-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Universe
spelling doaj.art-d51ee98833604e5ab7f27b50fc43c7ca2023-11-24T03:01:22ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972022-09-0181050410.3390/universe8100504Thermal Radiation from Compact Objects in Curved Space-TimeAbhas Mitra0Krishna Kumar Singh1Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, IndiaHomi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, IndiaWe highlight here the fact that the distantly observed luminosity of a spherically symmetric compact star radiating thermal radiation isotropically is higher by a factor of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> compared to the corresponding flat space-time case, where <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> is the surface gravitational redshift of the compact star. In particular, we emphasize that if the thermal radiation is indeed emitted isotropically along the respective normal directions at each point, this factor of increment <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> remains unchanged even if the compact object would lie within its <i>photon sphere</i>. Since a canonical neutron star has <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo>≈</mo><mn>0.1</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, the actual X-ray luminosity from the neutron star surface could be <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>∼</mo><mn>20</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> higher than what would be interpreted by ignoring the general relativistic effects described here. For a static compact object, supported by only isotropic pressure, compactness is limited by the Buchdahl limit <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo><</mo><mn>2.0</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. However, for compact objects supported by anisotropic pressure, <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> could be even higher (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo><</mo><mn>5.211</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>). In addition, in principle, there could be ultra-compact objects having <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>z</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi></msub><mo>≫</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Accordingly, the general relativistic effects described here might be quite important for studies of thermal radiation from some ultra-compact objects.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/10/504relativistic astrophysicsgravitational redshiftneutron starsX-ray luminosity
spellingShingle Abhas Mitra
Krishna Kumar Singh
Thermal Radiation from Compact Objects in Curved Space-Time
Universe
relativistic astrophysics
gravitational redshift
neutron stars
X-ray luminosity
title Thermal Radiation from Compact Objects in Curved Space-Time
title_full Thermal Radiation from Compact Objects in Curved Space-Time
title_fullStr Thermal Radiation from Compact Objects in Curved Space-Time
title_full_unstemmed Thermal Radiation from Compact Objects in Curved Space-Time
title_short Thermal Radiation from Compact Objects in Curved Space-Time
title_sort thermal radiation from compact objects in curved space time
topic relativistic astrophysics
gravitational redshift
neutron stars
X-ray luminosity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/10/504
work_keys_str_mv AT abhasmitra thermalradiationfromcompactobjectsincurvedspacetime
AT krishnakumarsingh thermalradiationfromcompactobjectsincurvedspacetime