Dynamics of Scalarization

Equilibrium solutions describing compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes endowed with a scalar field have been constructed in a number of modified theories of gravity. The mechanisms for developing and sustaining such scalar hair can be different, with the spontaneous scalarization having an important role among them. Studies of the dynamics of such processes is developing at a slower speed due to the high complexity of the problem especially in the nonlinear fully coupled regime. The advance in this topic is crucial, though, for studying a number of astrophysical implications. Here we will discuss some of the developments in this area focusing especially on the scalar-Gauss–Bonnet gravity as a representative example.