Compact Objects in Einstein-scalar-Gauss-Bonnet Theory and beyond

Abstract: In the context of General Relativity, black holes are not allowed to possess scalar hair, wormholes are not traversable and particle-like solutions are irregular. Therefore, in order to derive novel and physically interesting solutions that describe compact objects one needs to address generalised gravitational theories. One popular class of such theories is the Einstein-scalar-Gauss-Bonnet (EsGB) theory with a general coupling function between the scalar field of the theory and the quadratic Gauss-Bonnet term. Starting from black holes, we present a variety of spherically-symmetric solutions for several different forms of the coupling function and discuss their main features. We then proceed to wormhole solutions and demonstrate that the EsGB theory naturally supports traversable wormholes without the need for exotic matter. Regular scalarised particle-like solutions also emerge in the context of the same theory which also possess interesting observable features such as photon rings and echoes. Moving beyond this class of theories, we then address the more extended scalar-tensor Horndeski theory, briefly mention the types of black-hole solutions that arise, and demonstrate that an appropriately constructed disformal transformation of a black-hole solution, such as the Lu-Pang solution, results into a traversable wormhole in the context of the beyond-Horndeski theory.