In k-essence theories within general relativity, where the matter Lagrangian depends on a real scalar field $\varphi$ and its kinetic term $X$, static and spherically symmetric compact objects with a positive-definite energy density cannot exist without introducing ghosts. We show that this no-go theorem can be evaded when the k-essence Lagrangian is extended to include a dependence on the field strength $F$ of a $U(1)$ gauge field, taking the general form $\mathcal{L}(\varphi ,X,F)$. In Einstein-scalar-Maxwell theories with a scalar-vector coupling $\mu (\varphi )F$, we demonstrate the existence of asymptotically flat, charged compact stars whose energy density and pressure vanish at the center. With an appropriate choice of the coupling function $\mu (\varphi )$, we construct both electric and magnetic compact objects and derive their metric functions and scalar- and vector-field profiles analytically. We compute their masses and radii, showing that the compactness lies in the range $\mathcal{O}(0.01)<\mathcal{C}<\mathcal{O}(0.1)$. A linear perturbation analysis reveals that electric compact objects are free of strong-coupling, ghost, and Laplacian instabilities at all radii for $\mu (\varphi )>0$, while magnetic compact objects suffer from strong coupling near the center.

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• General relativity
• Gravitation