Astrophys Space Sci (2016) 361:238
DOI 10.1007/s10509-016-2828-7
O R I G I N A L A RT I C L E
Interior solutions of fluid sphere in f (R, T ) gravity admitting
conformal killing vectors
M. Zubair1 · I.H. Sardar2 · F. Rahaman2 · G. Abbas3
Received: 9 June 2016 / Accepted: 14 June 2016 / Published online: 21 June 2016
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016
Abstract We discuss the interior solutions of fluid Sphere
in f (R, T ) gravity admitting conformal killing vectors,
where R is Ricci scalar and T is trace of energy momen-
tum tensor. The solutions corresponding to isotropic and
anisotropic configurations have been investigated explicitly.
Further, the anisotropic case has been dealt by the utiliza-
tion of linear equation of state. The results for both cases
have been interpreted graphically. The equation of state pa-
rameter, integration constants and other parameters of the
theory have been chosen to find the central density equal to
standard value of central density of the compact objects. The
energy conditions as well as stability of the solutions have
been investigated in the background of f (R, T ) gravity.
Keywords Compact stars · f (R, T ) gravity
1 Introduction
It is an admitted fact that the accelerated expansion of our
Universe and the existence of dark matter are two such
B F. Rahaman
rahaman@associates.iucaa.in
M. Zubair
mzubairkk@gmail.com; drmzubair@ciitlahore.edu.pk
I.H. Sardar
iftikar.spm@gmail.com
G. Abbas
abbasg91@yahoo.com
1 Department of Mathematics, COMSATS Institute of Information
Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
2 Department of Mathematics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata
700032, India
3 Department of Mathematics, The Islamia University of
Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
important aspects of modern cosmology that have been
accepted on the background of observational data (Riess
et al. 2007; Perlmutter et al. 1999; Hanany et al. 2000;
Peebles and Ratra 2003). These finding have imposed some
additional challenges to theories of gravitation. The most
significant way to explain the observational data is by ad-
mitting that the Einstein theory of gravitation breaks down
at large scales, and a more generalized form of action is
required to describe the gravitational field at large scales.
During the last decades the most general theoretical models
of f (R) gravity, where R being Ricci scalar, have been ex-
tensively used to explain the cosmological results. The ac-
celerated expansion of universe and the conditions for the
presence of dark energy have been have studied in f (R)
gravity (Padmanabhan 2003). The physical conditions for
the viable cosmological models have been found in f (R)
(Nojiri and Odintsov 2011; Bamba et al. 2012), and satisfy
the weak field limit obtained from the classical tests of gen-
eral relativity. The f (R) models that satisfy the solar sys-
tem tests of general relativity and provides the unification
of inflation and dark energy were investigated in Nojiri and
Odintsov (2007); Cognola et al. (2008). In f (R) gravity, it
has been proved that the galactic dynamic of massive test
particles can be explained by excluding the possibility of
dark matter (Capozziello et al. 2006; Borowiec et al. 2007;
Martins and Salucci 2007; Boehmer et al. 2008a, 2008b).
Further, investigations in f (R) gravity can be found in detail
in Sotiriou and Faraoni (2010), Lobo (2008), Capozziello
and Faraoni (2010).
A most general form of f (R) theory of gravity was pro-
posed in Bertolami et al. (2007), by including an arbitrary
function of the Ricci scalar R with the matter Lagrangian
density Lm in the action of the theory. As a consequence
of such modification the motion of massive particles is non-
geodesic and there exists an extra-force The astronomical
238 Page 2 of 6 M. Zubair et al.

implication of non-minimal matter-geometry coupling were where L(m) is matter Lagrangian and g denote the metric
explored in Nojiri and Odintsov (2004), Harko (2010), and tensor. Different choices of L(m) can be considered, each of
Palatini approach of non-minimal geometry-coupling mod- which directs to a specific form of fluid. The line element for
els was discussed in Harko and Lobo (2010). In this cou- general spherically symmetric metric describing the com-
pling, a maximal extension of the Hilbert–Einstein action pact star stellar configuration is
was performed in Koivisto (2006) by taking the gravitational  
Lagrangian as an arbitrary function of Ricci scalar R and ds 2 = ea(r) dt 2 − eb(r) dr 2 − r 2 dθ 2 + sin2 θ dφ 2 . (2)
matter Lagrangian density Lm .
Taking 8πG = 1 and upon variation of modified EH ac-
The field equations as well as the equations of motion for
tion in f (R, T ) (1) with respect to metric tensor guv , the
test particles have been formulated in the metric formalism,
following modified field equations are formed as
which is the covariant divergence of the stress-energy tensor.

A specific form of above coupling was considered as another 1 f − RfR
Guv = (fT + 1)Tuv
(m)
− ρguv fT + guv
extension of general relativity as f (R, T ), modified theories fR 2
of gravity, where action is given by an arbitrary function of 
the Ricci scalar R and trace of the stress-energy tensor T + (∇u ∇v − guv )fR , (3)
(Nesseris 2009). Firstly, Lobo et al. (Harko et al. 2011) in-
troduced such modifications to obtain some specific results (m)
where Tuv denotes the usual matter energy momentum ten-
of cosmology, the more general aspects such as reconstruc-
sor that is considered to be anisotropic, is given by
tion of cosmological models and late time acceleration of
universe was first studied in Houndjo (2012). Further, the (m)
Tuv = (ρ + pt )Vu Vv − pt guv + (pr − pt )χu χv , (4)
energy conditions and thermodynamics in f (R, T ), theories
have been investigated by Sharif and Zubair (2012a, 2012b). where ρ, pr and pt denote energy density, radial and trans-
In general conformal Killing vectors (CKVs) explain the verse stresses respectively. The four velocity is denoted by
mathematical relation between the geometry and contents Vu and χu to be the radial four vector satisfying
of matter in the spacetime via Einstein set of field equations. −a
The CKVs are used generate the exact solution of the Ein- Vu =e 2 δ0u , V u Vu = 1,
(5)
stein field equation in more convenient form as compared to −b
χu = e 2 δ1u , χ u χu = −1.
other analytical approaches. Further these are used to dis-
cover the conservation laws in any spacetime. The Einstein The conformal Killing vector is defined through the relation
field equations being the highly non-linear partial differen-
η η
tial equations can be reduced to a set of ordinary differential Lξ gμν = gην ξ;μ + gμη ξ;ν = ψ(r)gμν , (6)
equations by using CKVs. A lot of astrophysical phenom-
ena have been explored on the theoretical background using where L represents the Lie derivative of metric tensor and
the CKVs approach (see Ray et al. 2008, Rahaman et al. ψ(r) is the conformal vector.
2014, Rahaman et al. 2015a, 2015b, 2015c). The interior Using (2) in (6), one can find (Rahaman et al. 2014)
anisotropic fluid spheres admitting conformal motion have ξ 1 a  = ψ,
been studied during the last stages by Herrera and his col-
laborators (Herrera 1992; Herrera et al. 1984; Herrera and ξr
ξ1 = ,
Ponce de Leon 1985a, 1985b, 1985c). 2
In the present paper, our main motivation is to find the ξ 1 b + 2ξ,1
1
= ψ,
exact solution for static anisotropic spheres preserving the
conformal motion in f (R, T ) gravity. Section 2 deals with These results imply
formulation of field equations in f (R, T ) gravity. The exact
solutions with isotropic and anisotropic configurations have e a = C1 r 2 ,
been investigated in Sect. 3. The last section summaries the  2 (7)
C2
results of the paper. e =
b
,
ψ
where C1 and C2 are integration constants.
2 Interior matter distribution in f (R, T ) gravity When f (R, T ) = f1 (R) + λT , the expression for ρ, pr
and pt can be extracted from modified field equations as
The modified action in f (R, T ) is as follows follows
  
√ f (R, T ) e−b(r)   
dx 4 −g + L(m) , (1) ρ= −2(2f1R −2 + −5 + eb(r) λ
16πG 4r (1 + λ)(1 + 2λ)
2
Interior solutions of fluid sphere in f (R, T ) gravity admitting conformal killing vectors Page 3 of 6 238
   

r −2− 1+2λ
λ
+ r f1R (4 + 3λ) + r eb(r) f (1 + λ) + f1R (2 + 3λ)
 
ρ=
+ r −2f1R + f1R
r(2 + 3λ) b (r) , (8) 2(λ − 2)(λ + 1)(2λ + 1)2
 
e−b(r)   × 2r λ/1+2λ −1 − 4λ − 2λ2 + 4λ3
 2
pr = 2(− 2f 1R + f 1R r λ  

4r 2 (1 + λ)(1 + 2λ) + C3 r 2/1+2λ 12 + 2λ − 26λ2 + 11λ3 , (16)


 
+ f1R r(6 + 7λ) + eb(r) 2f1R λ + f r 2 (1 + λ) −2− 1+2λ
λ
r
  
p=
+ r f1R rλ + f1R (6 + 8λ) b (r) , (9) 2(λ − 2)(λ + 1)(2λ + 1)2
 
e−b(r)    × 2r λ/1+2λ −1 − 2λ + 2λ2 + 4λ3
pt = 2 2f1R −2 − 3λ + eb(r) (1 + λ)  

4r (1 + λ)(1 + 2λ)
2
  + C3 r 2/1+2λ −12 − 22λ − 4λ2 + 9λ3 , (17)
+ r f1R (4 + 9λ)  1/2
 b(r)  1−λ
+ r e f (1 + 2λ) + f1R 
(2 + 3λ) ψ = C2 + C3 r 2−λ/2λ+1
, (18)
2−λ
  

+ r −f1R r(2 + 3λ) + f1R (2 + 6λ) b (r) . (10) where C3 is an arbitrary constant.
To search the physical properties of the interior of the
Here f1R = df 1
dR and prime denotes the derivatives with re- fluid sphere, we draw the profile of matter density and pres-
spect to radial coordinate. Equations (8)–(10) are highly sure in Figs. 1(left) and 1(middle) respectively. The profile
non-linear to find the eb(r) . Therefore, we consider the sim- indicates that matter density and pressure all are positive
ples case f (R, T ) = R + λT which represents the CDM inside the fluid Sphere. It is to be noted that density and
model in f (R, T ) gravity. For this choice we can find the radial pressure are decreasing with the radial coordinate r
results for ρ, pr and pt in the following form which are the common features. Obviously all energy con-
ditions are satisfied see Fig. 1(right). Here, the model indi-
e−b(r)  
ρ= 2 −1 + eb(R) + 2λ cates equation of state parameter as well as sound velocity
2r 2 (1 + λ)(1 + 2λ) are less than unity, see Fig. 2. Thus our solutions satisfy all

+ r(2 + 3λ)b (r) , (11) criteria for physically valid solution of a fluid sphere.

e−b(r)
3.2 Anisotropic case
pr = 6 − 2eb(r) + 4λ + rλb (r) ,
4r 2 (1 + λ)(1 + 2λ)
(12) Our objective in this section is to develop a model for
anisotropic fluid and, therefore, we assume pr = pt . The
e−b(r)   simplest form of the fluid sphere EoS having the form
pt = 2 − 2 −3 + e b(r)
λ
4r 2 (1 + λ)(1 + 2λ)

pr = ωρ. (19)
− r(2 + 3λ)b (r) . (13)
Therefore the solutions are obtained in the following form
2(1 + ω) 2(1+ω)
3 Solutions e−b(r) = + C4 r λ−ω(2+3λ) , (20)
(6 + 4λ) + ω(2 − 4λ)
Now we are seeking solutions for two different physical sit- 4((1 + λ)ω − λ)
R=
uations. At first, we assume the isotropic case and secondly r 2 (3 + ω + (1 − ω)2λ)
we will consider anisotropic model of the Fluid Sphere. 2(1+ω)
C4 6((1 + 3λ)ω − (1 + λ))r −2− −λ+ω(2+3λ)
+ , (21)
3.1 Isotropic case −λ + ω(2 + 3λ)
1
For isotropic model of the Fluid Sphere, it is assumed that ρ=
r 2 (1 + λ)(1 + 2λ)
pr = pt = p.
 2(1+ω)
Using the isotropic pressures and solving (11)–(13), we 2C4 (1 + λ(2 − λ + ω(2 + 3λ)))r − −λ+ω(2+3λ)
get ×
−λ + ω(2 + 3λ)

1−λ 2 + 4λ
e−b(r) = + C3 r 2−λ/2λ+1 , (14) + , (22)
2−λ 3 + ω + 2λ(1 − ω)
 
1 6 3C3 (4 + 3λ)r 2−λ/2λ+1 1
R= 4 + + , (15) pr =
r2 λ−2 1 + 2λ r 2 (1 + λ)(1 + 2λ)
238 Page 4 of 6 M. Zubair et al.

Fig. 1 (Left) Density is plotted against r. (Middle) Pressure is plotted against r. (Right) Variation of p + ρ is shown against r

Fig. 2 (Left) EoS is plotted

against r. (Right) Variation of
sound speed is shown against r

Fig. 3 (Left) Density is plotted against r. (Middle) Radial pressure is plotted against r. (Right) Transverse pressure is plotted against r

 2(1+ω)  2(1+ω)
2C4 (−λ(1 + λ) + ω(3 + λ(7 + 3λ)))r − −λ+ω(2+3λ) C4 (−2 + λ(−4 − 3λ + ω(6 + 9λ)))r − −λ+ω(2+3λ)
× ×
−λ + ω(2 + 3λ) −λ + ω(2 + 3λ)
 
2ω(1 + 2λ) 1 + ω + 2ωλ + 2(−1 + ω)λ2
+ , (23) + , (24)
3 + ω + 2λ(1 − ω) 3 + ω + 2λ(1 − ω)
1  1/2
pr = 2(1 + ω) 2(1+ω)
r 2 (1 + λ)(1 + 2λ) ψ = C2 + C4 r λ−ω(2+3λ) . (25)
(6 + 4λ) + ω(2 − 4λ)
Interior solutions of fluid sphere in f (R, T ) gravity admitting conformal killing vectors Page 5 of 6 238

Fig. 4 (Left) Variation of ρ + pr is shown against r. (Middle) Variation of ρ + pt is shown against r. (Right) Variation of ρ + pr + 2pt is shown
against r

Fig. 5 (Left) Variation of

equation of state in radial
direction is shown against r.
(Right) Variation of equation of
state in transverse direction is
shown against r.

Fig. 6 (Left) Variation of radial sound speed is shown against r. (Middle) Variation of transverse sound speed is shown against r. (Right) Variation
of vt2 − vr2 is shown against r

4 Concluding remarks isotropic pressure (pr = pt = p) as well as anisotropic pres-

In this paper, we have developed a compact star model in
f (R, T ) gravity which satisfy the conformal Killing vec-
tors equations. In this setting, we have studied in detail
the f (R, T ) gravity for the case f (R, T ) = R + λT with
sure (pr = pt ). Further, we would like to mention that a
linear equation of state for the anisotropic case has been
employed. The equation of state parameter, integration con-
stants and parameter of the theory λ have been chosen ar-
bitrarily, so that in the present background the value of the
238 Page 6 of 6
central energy density becomes approximately equal to the
standard value of energy density for the compact stars. The
regularity as well as energy conditions for the both solutions
have been discussed in detail (see also in Figs. 3 and 4).
It has been found that the energy density and pressure
are positive and finite throughout interior of the stars. The
constraint on the equation of state parameters are given by
0 < ωr < 1 and 0 < ωt < 1, (as shown in Fig. 5) which are
in agreement with the normal matter distribution in f (R, T )
gravity. In 1992 Herrera proposed the cracking concept
(also known as overturning) which determine the stability
of anisotropic star. In our model, we have shown from Fig. 6
that radial speed of sound is always greater than the trans-
verse speed of sound everywhere inside the stars due to same
sign of vr2 − vt2 . Therefore according to cracking concept
our star model is stable in f (R, T ) gravity. This work can
be extended by taking more general form of the f (R, T )
gravity model, to discuss some other physical properties like
anisotropic parameter , optimality of density and pressure
and surface red-shift.
Acknowledgements FR would like to thank the authorities of the
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, In-
dia for providing research facilities. FR and IHS are also thankful to
DST, Govt. of India for providing financial support under PURSE pro-
gramme and INSPIRE Fellowship respectively.
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