Scalar, spherically symmetric, radially excited boson stars were previously shown to be stabilized, against spherical dynamics, by sufficiently strong self-interactions. Here, we further test their stability now in a full $3+1\mathrm{D}$ evolution. We show that the stable stars in the former case become afflicted by a nonspherical instability. Then, we perform head-on collisions of both (stable) fundamental and (sufficiently long-lived) excited boson stars. Depending on the stars chosen, either a black hole or a bosonic remnant are possible. In particular, collisions of excited stars result in a bosonic bound state which resembles a dynamical superposition of chains and rings, akin to the ones found as equilibrium solutions in [1]. These evolutions emphasize a key difference concerning the dynamical robustness of fundamental vs excited spherical boson stars, when generic (beyond spherical) dynamics is considered.

Close

PrevNext

View figure in article

• Classical black holes
• Dark matter
• Fluids & classical fields in curved spacetime
• General relativity
• General relativity equations & solutions
• Gravitation
• Gravitational wave sources
• Gravitational waves
• Astrophysical & cosmological simulations
• Numerical relativity