In this paper, based on the action of a complex scalar field minimally coupled to a gravitational field, we numerically obtain a series of massive boson star solutions in a spherically symmetric background with a quartic-order self-interaction potential. Then, considering a thin accretion flow with a certain four-velocity, we further investigate the observable appearance of the boson star using the ray-tracing method and stereographic projection technique. As a horizonless compact object, the boson star’s thin disk images clearly exhibit multiple bright rings and a dark central region, with up to five bright rings. As the observer’s position changes, the bright rings of some boson stars deform into a symmetrical “horseshoe” or “crescent” shape. When the emitted profile varies, the images may display distinct observational signatures of a “central emission region.” Meanwhile, it shows that the corresponding polarized images not only reveal the spacetime features of boson stars but also reflect the properties of the accretion disk and its magnetic field structure. By comparing with black hole, we find that both the polarized signatures and thin disk images can effectively provide a possible basis for distinguishing boson stars from black holes. However, within the current resolution limits of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), boson stars may still closely mimic the appearance of black holes, making them challenging to distinguish at this stage.

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• General relativity
• Accretion disk & black-hole plasma