Gravitational Collapse and Singularity Removal in Rastall Theory

In the present work, we study spherically symmetric gravitational collapse of a homogeneous fluid in the framework of Rastall gravity. Considering a nonlinear equation of state (EoS) for the fluid profiles, we search for a class of nonsingular collapse solutions and the possibility of singularity removal. We find that depending on the model parameters, the collapse scenario halts at a minimum value of the scale factor at which a bounce occurs. The collapse process then enters an expanding phase in the postbounce regime, and consequently the formation of a spacetime singularity is prevented. We also find that, in comparison to the singular case where the apparent horizon forms to cover the singularity, the formation of apparent horizon can be delayed allowing thus the bounce to be causally connected to the external universe. The nonsingular solutions we obtain satisfy the weak energy condition (WEC) which is crucial for physical validity of the model.

“Time”-Covariant Schrödinger Equation and the Canonical Quantization of the Reissner–Nordström Black Hole

A “time”-covariant Schrödinger equation is defined for the minisuperspace model of the Reissner–Nordström (RN) black hole, as a “hybrid” between the “intrinsic time” Schrödinger and Wheeler–DeWitt (WDW) equations. To do so, a reduced, regular, and “time(r)”-dependent Hamiltonian density was constructed, without “breaking” the re-parametrization covariance r→f(r˜). As a result, the evolution of states with respect to the parameter r and the probabilistic interpretation of the resulting quantum description is possible, while quantum schemes for different gauge choices are equivalent by construction. The solutions are found for Dirac’s delta and Gaussian initial states. A geometrical interpretation of the wavefunctions is presented via Bohm analysis. Alongside this, a criterion is presented to adjudicate which, between two singular spacetimes, is “more” or “less” singular. Two ways to adjudicate the existence of singularities are compared (vanishing of the probability density at the classical singularity and semi-classical spacetime singularity). Finally, an equivalence of the reduced equations with those of a 3D electromagnetic pp-wave spacetime is revealed.

Towards the Structure of Black Holes in Asymptotically Safe Gravity

Asymptotically safe quantum gravity suggests a resolution to the classical spacetime singularity of Schwarzschild-(A)dS black holes. In particular, this is realizable only for a vanishing microscopic value of the dimensionless cosmological constant at the asymptotically safe fixed point. To accommodate a nonzero infrared value of the cosmological constant, we consider the linearized Renormalization Group flow away from the fixed point, which is characterized by two critical exponents in the Einstein-Hilbert truncation. In this study, we show that the realization of a regular de-Sitter core places a bound on the universal gravitational critical exponents. Accordingly, our study hints at the possibility of singularity resolution in black holes, as explicit estimates of the critical exponents in the literature point towards a realization of our bound.

Understanding singularities — Classical and quantum

The definitions of classical and quantum singularities are reviewed. Examples are given of both as well as their utility in general relativity. In particular, the classical and quantum singularity structure of certain interesting conformally static spherically symmetric spacetimes modeling scalar field collapse are reviewed. The spacetimes include the Roberts spacetime, the Husain-Martinez-Nuñez spacetime and the Fonarev spacetime. The importance of understanding spacetime singularity structure is discussed.