On the stability of (M theory) stars against collapse: Role of anisotropic pressures

Abstract

Unitarity of evolution in gravitational collapses implies existence of macroscopic stable horizonless objects. With such objects in mind, we study the effects of anisotropy of pressures on the stability of stars. We consider stars in four or higher dimensions and also stars in M theory made up of (intersecting) branes. Taking the stars to be static, spherically symmetric and the equations of state to be linear, we study “singular solutions” and the asymptotic perturbations around them. Oscillatory perturbations are likely to imply instability. We find that nonoscillatory perturbations, which may imply stability, are possible if an appropriate amount of anisotropy is present. This result suggests that it may be possible to have stable horizonless objects in four or any higher dimensions, and that anisotropic pressures may play a crucial role in ensuring their stability.