We calculate static and spherically symmetric solutions for the Rastall modification of gravity to describe neutron stars (NS). The key feature of the Rastall gravity is the nonconservation of the energy-momentum tensor proportionally to the space-time curvature. Using realistic equations of state for the NS interior we place a conservative bound on the non-general relativity behavior of the Rastall theory which should be $\lesssim 1\%$ level. This work presents the more stringent constraints on the deviations of general relativity caused by the Rastall proposal.

• Received 5 June 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.92.044020