We investigate irregularity factors for a self-gravitating spherical star evolving in the presence of an imperfect fluid. We explore the gravitational field equations and the dynamical equations with the systematic construction in $f(R,T)$ gravity, where $T$ is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor. Furthermore, we analyze two well-known differential equations (which occupy principal importance in the exploration of causes of energy density inhomogeneities) with the help of the Weyl tensor and the conservation laws. The irregularity factors for a spherical star are examined for particular cases of dust and isotropic and anisotropic fluids in dissipative and nondissipative regimes in the framework of $f(R,T)$ gravity. It is found that, as the complexity of the matter with the anisotropic stresses increases, the inhomogeneity factor corresponds more closely to one of the structure scalars.

• Received 14 March 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.93.124048