Boson Stars: Gravitational Equilibria of Self-Interacting Scalar Fields

Abstract

Spherically symmetric gravitational equilibria of self-interacting scalar fields with interaction potential V()=144 are determined. Surprisingly, the resulting configuration may differ markedly from the noninteracting case even when 1. Contrary to generally accepted astrophysical folklore, it is found that the maximum masses of such boson stars may be comparable to the Chandrasekhar mass for fermions of mass mfermion-14mboson. © 1986 The American Physical Society.