Hyperaccreting neutron stars inside massive envelopes: The implausibility of Thorne-Żytkow objects
Phys. Rev. D 114, 023018 – Published 13 July, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/8pb2-9t2x
Abstract
The evolution of neutron stars (NSs) embedded within massive stellar envelopes is a critical phase in binary stellar evolution, potentially leading to the formation of Thorne-Żytkow Objects (TŻOs) or catastrophic collapse. We present the first fully coupled general relativistic hydrodynamics simulations of hypercritical accretion onto NSs that simultaneously incorporate gray two-moment (M1) neutrino transport and an -chain nuclear reaction network. By investigating four distinct progenitor evolutionary stages, we resolve the complex interplay between intense neutrino cooling, multidimensional fluid dynamics, and nuclear feedback. Our results show that, while vigorous convection is triggered in the postshock region, the global energy budget is primarily governed by neutrino cooling, which effectively balances the accretion power. Crucially, even though our M1 transport scheme captures neutrino absorption and localized heating, the efficient cooling sink and high ram pressure of the infalling envelope prevent the formation of any core-collapse supernovalike explosion. We find that all nucleosynthetically processed material () remains strictly gravitationally bound, challenging the assumption that these systems contribute significantly to galactic nucleosynthetic yields via convective dredge-up. The lack of sustained outflows and the persistent hypercritical accretion rates suggest that embedded NSs will rapidly exceed the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff mass limit on timescales of minutes to hours. We conclude that these systems are not stable TŻOs but are rather transient precursors to catastrophic black hole formation and potential central engines for high-energy transients.
