Gravitational Phase Transition in Neutron Stars

Abstract

The possibility of a gravitational phase transition, especially with respect to neutron stars is investigated. First, a semiclassical treatment is given, predicting a gravitational London penetration depth of 12km for neutron stars. Second, the problem is considered from a Ginzburg-Landau point of view. A gravitational Meissner effect, a gravitational Aharanov-Bohm type effect and a gravitational ferromagnetic type phase are predicted. Finally, a field theoretic consideration predicts a mass term for the graviton below a certain critical temperature.