Comprehensive investigation of compact stars in f(R,ϕ,χ) modified gravity

This paper investigates the behavior of anisotropic compact stars within [Formula: see text] modified gravity, employing the Krori–Barua metric potentials. We consider a spherically symmetric spacetime with an anisotropic field, where [Formula: see text] represents the Ricci scalar, [Formula: see text] the scalar potential function, and [Formula: see text] the kinetic term of [Formula: see text]. Twelve distinct stars-[Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] are examined to model and understand the behavior of stellar structure. By aligning the interior geometry of Schwarzschild spacetime with spherically symmetric spacetime, we identify key parameter values within the metric potentials. Our analysis includes evaluating pressure components, energy density, energy conditions, adiabatic index, stability, matching conditions, and anisotropic effects. Additional parameters such as mass function, compactness factor, and surface redshift functions are also examined. The results demonstrate that the compact stars considered in the [Formula: see text] model are stable, realistic, and devoid of any physical or geometrical singularities.