We study in the physical frame the phenomenon of spontaneous scalarization that occurs in scalar-tensor theories of gravity for compact objects. We discuss the fact that the phenomenon occurs exactly in the regime where the Newtonian analysis indicates it should not. Finally, we discuss the way the phenomenon depends on the equation of state used to describe nuclear matter.

• Received 13 May 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.58.124003