The second rise of general relativity in astrophysics

Abstract

The field equations, which are the mathematical basis of the theory of general relativity, provide us with a much larger variety of solutions to model the neutron stars and other compact objects than are used in the current astrophysics. We point out some important consequences of the new kind of solutions of the field equations, which can be obtained if the astrophysical usage of general relativity is not constrained, and outline an impact of these solutions on the models of internal structure of compact objects. If general relativity is not constrained, it enables to construct the stable object, with the outer surface above the event horizon, of whatever large mass. A new concept of relativistic compact object is a consequence of newly discovered property of gravity, yielded by the field equations in a spherically symmetric configuration of matter: in comparison with the Newtonian case, a particle is more effectively attracted by a nearer than a more distant matter.