Spacelike Singularity Research Articles

Probing crunching AdS cosmologies

Holographic gravity duals of deformations of CFTs formulated on de Sitter spacetime contain FRW geometries behind a horizon, with cosmological big crunch singularities. Using a specific analytically tractable solution within a particular single scalar truncation of N=8 supergravity on AdS_4, we first probe such crunching cosmologies with spacelike radial geodesics that compute spatially antipodal correlators of large dimension boundary operators. At late times, the geodesics lie on the FRW slice of maximal expansion behind the horizon. The late time two-point functions factorise, and when transformed to the Einstein static universe, they exhibit a temporal non-analyticity determined by the maximal value of the scale factor a_{max} . Radial geodesics connecting antipodal points necessarily have de Sitter energy E \leq a_{max}, while geodesics with E > a_{max} terminate at the crunch, the two categories of geodesics being separated by the maximal expansion slice. The spacelike crunch singularity is curved "outward" in the Penrose diagram for the deformed AdS backgrounds, and thus geodesic limits of the antipodal correlators do not directly probe the crunch. Beyond the geodesic limit, we point out that the scalar wave equation, analytically continued into the FRW patch, has a potential which is singular at the crunch along with complex WKB turning points in the vicinity of the FRW crunch. We then argue that the frequency space Green's function has a branch point determined by a_{max} which corresponds to the lowest quasinormal frequency.

Black holes and Thunderbolt singularities with Lifshitz scaling terms

We study a static, spherically symmetric and asymptotic flat spacetime, assuming the hypersurface orthogonal Einstein-aether theory with an ultraviolet modification motivated by the Horava-Lifshitz theory, which is composed of the $z=2$ Lifshitz scaling terms such as scalar combinations of a three-Ricci curvature and the acceleration of the aether field. For the case with the quartic term of the acceleration of the aether field, we obtain a two-parameter family of black hole solutions, which possess a regular universal horizon. While, if three-Ricci curvature squared term is joined in ultraviolet modification, we find a solution with a thunderbolt singularity such that the universal horizon turns to be a spacelike singularity.

A new class of asymptotically non-chaotic vacuum singularities

The BKL conjecture, stated in the 1960s and early 1970s by Belinski, Khalatnikov and Lifschitz, proposes a detailed description of the generic asymptotic dynamics of spacetimes as they approach a spacelike singularity. It predicts complicated chaotic behaviour in the generic case, but simpler non-chaotic one in cases with symmetry assumptions or certain kinds of matter fields.Here we construct a new class of four-dimensional vacuum spacetimes containing spacelike singularities which show non-chaotic behaviour. In contrast with previous constructions, no symmetry assumptions are made. Rather, the metric is decomposed in Iwasawa variables and conditions on the asymptotic evolution of some of them are imposed. The constructed solutions contain five free functions of all space coordinates, two of which are constrained by inequalities.We investigate continuous and discrete isometries and compare the solutions to previous constructions. Finally, we give the asymptotic behaviour of the metric components and curvature.

A scenario for critical scalar field collapse in AdS3

We present a family of exact solutions, depending on two parameters α and b (related to the scalar field strength), to the three-dimensional Einstein-scalar field equations with negative cosmological constant Λ. For b = 0 these solutions reduce to the static Bañados–Teitelboim–Zanelli (BTZ) family of vacuum solutions, with mass . For , the solutions become dynamical and develop a strong spacelike central singularity. The solutions are black-hole like, with a global structure topologically similar to that of the BTZ black holes, and a finite effective mass. We show that the near-singularity behavior of the solutions with agrees qualitatively with that observed in numerical simulations of sub-critical collapse, including the independence of the near-critical regime on the angle deficit of the spacetime. We analyze in the approximation the linear perturbations of the self-similar threshold solution, , and find that it has only one unstable growing mode, which qualifies it as a candidate critical solution for scalar field collapse.

Charged McVittie spacetime

The two-parameter charged McVittie solution of the Einstein equations is revisited and its apparent horizons are discussed and located numerically (for the extremal case, analytically). According to the parameter values, this spacetime can be interpreted as a black hole, or a spacelike naked singularity, in a spatially homogeneous and isotropic universe.

Dynamics near Space-like Singularities and Quantum Bounces

Dynamics near Space-like Singularities and Quantum Bounces

BORN–INFELD–DE SITTER GRAVITY: COLD, ULTRA-COLD AND NARIAI BLACK HOLES

In this paper, we have presented interesting properties of the static charged Born–Infeld–de Sitter black hole. They can have timelike as well as spacelike singularities depending on the parameters of the theory. The degenerate black holes lead to cold, ultra-cold and Nariai black holes. The geometry of such black holes is discussed. A comparison is done with the Reissner–Nordstrom–de Sitter black holes.

Recent developments concerning generic spacelike singularities

This is a review of recent progress concerning generic spacelike singularities in general relativity. For brevity the main focus is on singularities in vacuum spacetimes, although the connection with, and the role of, matter for generic singularity formation is also commented on. The paper describes recent developments in two areas and show how these are connected within the context of the conformally Hubble-normalized state space approach. The first area is oscillatory singularities in spatially homogeneous cosmology and the connection between asymptotic behaviour and heteroclinic chains. The second area concerns oscillatory singularities in inhomogeneous models, especially spike chains and recurring spikes. The review also outlines some underlying reasons for why the structures that are the foundation for generic oscillatory behaviour exists at all, which entails discussing how underlying physical principles and applications of solution generating techniques yield hierarchical structures and connections between them. Finally, it is pointed out that recent progress concerning generic singularities motivates some speculations that suggest that a paradigm shift concerning their physical role, and what mathematical issues to address, might be in order.

Spike statistics

In this paper we explore stochastical and statistical properties of so-called recurring spike induced Kasner sequences. Such sequences arise in recurring spike formation, which is needed together with the more familiar BKL scenario to yield a complete description of generic spacelike singularities. In particular we derive a probability distribution for recurring spike induced Kasner sequences, complementing similar available BKL results, which makes comparisons possible. As examples of applications, we derive results for so-called large and small curvature phases and the Hubble-normalized Weyl scalar.

Singularities of noncompact charged objects

We formulate a model for noncompact spherical charged objects in the framework of noncommutative field theory. The Einstein—Maxwell field equations are solved with charged anisotropic fluid. We choose matter and charge densities as functions of the two parameters, instead of defining these quantities in terms of the Gaussian distribution function. It is found that the corresponding densities and the Ricci scalar are singular in origin, whereas the metric is nonsingular, indicating a spacelike singularity. The numerical solution of the horizon equation implies that there are two or one or no horizon(s), depending on the mass. We also evaluate the Hawking temperature and find that a black hole with two horizons is evaporated to an extremal black hole with one horizon.

SPACETIME SINGULARITIES: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Recent developments concerning oscillatory spacelike singularities in general relativity are taking place on two fronts. The first treats generic singularities in spatially homogeneous cosmology, most notably Bianchi types VIII and IX. The second deals with generic oscillatory singularities in inhomogeneous cosmologies, especially those with two commuting spacelike Killing vectors. This paper describes recent progress in these two areas: in the spatially homogeneous case, focus is on mathematically rigorous results, while analytical and numerical results concerning generic behavior and so-called recurring spike formation are the main topics in the inhomogeneous case. Unifying themes are connections between asymptotic behavior, hierarchical structures and solution generating techniques, which provide hints for a link between the nature of generic singularities and a hierarchy of hidden asymptotic symmetries.

Non-extremal black hole microstates: fuzzballs of fire or fuzzballs of fuzz?

Abstract We construct the first family of microstate geometries of near-extremal black holes, by placing metastable supertube probes inside certain scaling supersymmetric smooth microstate geometries. These fuzzballs differ from the classical black hole solution macroscopically at the horizon scale, and for certain probes the fluctuations between various fuzzballs will be visible as thermal noise far away from the horizon. We discuss whether these fuzzballs appear to infalling observers as fuzzballs of fuzz or as fuzzballs of fire. The existence of these solutions suggests that the singularity of non-extremal black holes is resolved all the way to the outer horizon and this “backwards in time” singularity resolution can shed light on the resolution of spacelike cosmological singularities.

Spike oscillations

According to Belinski\ifmmode \check{i}\else \v{i}\fi{}, Khalatnikov and Lifshitz (BKL), a generic spacelike singularity is characterized by asymptotic locality: Asymptotically, toward the singularity, each spatial point evolves independently from its neighbors, in an oscillatory manner that is represented by a sequence of Bianchi type I and II vacuum models. Recent investigations support this conjecture but with a modification: Apart from local BKL behavior there also exists formation of spatial structures (``spikes'') at, and in the neighborhood of, certain spatial surfaces that break asymptotic locality; the complete description of a generic spacelike singularity involves spike oscillations, which are described by sequences of Bianchi type I and certain inhomogeneous vacuum models. In this paper we describe how BKL and spike oscillations arise from concatenations of exact solutions in a Hubble-normalized state space setting, suggesting the existence of hidden symmetries and showing that the results of BKL are part of a greater picture.

A no-singularity scenario in loop quantum gravity

Canonical methods allow the derivation of effective gravitational actions from the behavior of space-time deformations reflecting general covariance. With quantum effects, the deformations and correspondingly the effective actions change, revealing dynamical implications of quantum corrections. A new systematic way of expanding these actions is introduced showing as a first result that inverse-triad corrections of loop quantum gravity simplify the asymptotic dynamics near a spacelike collapse singularity. By generic quantum effects, the singularity is removed.

Stable bounce and inflation in non-local higher derivative cosmology

One of the greatest problems of primordial inflation is that the inflationary space-time is past-incomplete. This is mainly because Einstein's GR suffers from a space-like Big Bang singularity. It has recently been shown that ghost-free, non-local higher-derivative ultra-violet modifications of Einstein's gravity may be able to resolve the cosmological Big Bang singularity via a non-singular bounce. Within the framework of such non-local cosmological models, we are going to study both sub- and super-Hubble perturbations around an inflationary trajectory which is preceded by the Big Bounce in the past, and demonstrate that the inflationary trajectory has an ultra-violet completion and that perturbations do not suffer from any pathologies.

Effective dynamics in Bianchi type II loop quantum cosmology

We numerically investigate the solutions to the effective equations of the Bianchi II model within the ``improved'' loop quantum cosmology dynamics. The matter source is a massless scalar field. We perform a systematic study of the space of solutions, and focus on the behavior of several geometrical observables. We show that the big bang singularity is replaced by a bounce and the pointlike singularities do not saturate the energy density bound. There are up to three directional bounces in the scale factors, one global bounce in the expansion, the shear presents up to four local maxima and can be zero at the bounce. This allows for solutions with density larger than the maximal density for the isotropic and Bianchi I cases. The asymptotic behavior is shown to behave like that of a Bianchi I model, and the effective solutions connect anisotropic solutions even when the shear is zero at the bounce. All known facts of Bianchi I are reproduced. In the ``vacuum limit,'' solutions are such that almost all the dynamics is due to the anisotropies. Since Bianchi II plays an important role in the Bianchi IX model and the Belinskii, Khalatnikov, Lifshitz conjecture, our results can provide an intuitive understanding of the behavior in the vicinity of general spacelike singularities, when loop-geometric corrections are present.

Relativistic wavepackets in classically chaotic quantum cosmological billiards

Close to a spacelike singularity, pure gravity and supergravity in 4 to 11 spacetime dimensions admit a cosmological billiard description based on hyperbolic Kac-Moody groups. We investigate the quantum cosmological billiards of relativistic wavepackets towards the singularity, employing flat and hyperbolic space descriptions for the quantum billiards. We find that the strongly chaotic classical billiard motion of four-dimensional pure gravity corresponds to a spreading wavepacket subject to successive redshifts and tending to zero as the singularity is approached. We discuss the possible implications of these results in the context of singularity resolution and compare them with those of known semiclassical approaches. As an aside, we obtain exact solutions for the one-dimensional relativistic quantum billiards with moving walls.

Dynamical formation and evolution of (2+1)-dimensional charged black holes

In this paper, we investigate the dynamical formation and evolution of (2 + 1)-dimensional charged black holes. We numerically study dynamical collapses of charged matter fields in an anti-de Sitter background and note the formation of black holes using the double-null formalism. Moreover, we include renormalized energy–momentum tensors assuming the S-wave approximation to determine thermodynamical back-reactions to the internal structures. If there are no semi-classical effects, the amount of charge determines the causal structures. If the charge is sufficiently small, the causal structure has a space-like singularity. However, as the charge increases, an inner Cauchy horizon appears. If we have sufficient charge, we see a space-like outer horizon and a time-like inner horizon, and if we give excessive charge, black hole horizons disappear. We have some circumstantial evidence that weak cosmic censorship is still satisfied, even for such excessive charge cases. Also, we confirm that there is mass inflation along the inner horizon, although the properties are quite different from those of four-dimensional cases. Semi-classical back-reactions will not affect the outer horizon, but they will affect the inner horizon. Near the center, there is a place where negative energy is concentrated. Thus, charged black holes in three dimensions have two types of curvature singularities in general: via mass inflation and via a concentration of negative energy. Finally, we classify possible causal structures.

Hamiltonian formulation of the Belinskii-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz conjecture

The Belinskii, Khalatnikov and Lifshitz conjecture \cite{bkl1} posits that on approach to a space-like singularity in general relativity the dynamics are well approximated by `ignoring spatial derivatives in favor of time derivatives.' In \cite{ahs1} we examined this idea from within a Hamiltonian framework and provided a new formulation of the conjecture in terms of variables well suited to loop quantum gravity. We now present the details of the analytical part of that investigation. While our motivation came from quantum considerations, thanks to some of its new features, our formulation should be useful also for future analytical and numerical investigations within general relativity.

Exotic singularities and spatially curved loop quantum cosmology

We investigate the occurrence of various exotic spacelike singularities in the past and the future evolution of $k=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ Friedmann-Robertson-Walker model and loop quantum cosmology using a sufficiently general phenomenological model for the equation of state. We highlight the nontrivial role played by the intrinsic curvature for these singularities and the new physics which emerges at the Planck scale. We show that quantum gravity effects generically resolve all strong curvature singularities including big rip and big freeze singularities. The weak singularities, which include sudden and big brake singularities, are ignored by quantum gravity when spatial curvature is negative, as was previously found for the spatially flat model. Interestingly, for the spatially closed model there exist cases where weak singularities may be resolved when they occur in the past evolution. The spatially closed model exhibits another novel feature. For a particular class of equation of state, this model also exhibits an additional physical branch in loop quantum cosmology, a baby universe separated from the parent branch. Our analysis generalizes previous results obtained on the resolution of strong curvature singularities in flat models to isotropic spacetimes with nonzero spatial curvature.