https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-014-2767-9
Regular Article - Theoretical Physics
Terminating black holes in asymptotically free quantum gravity
Department of Physics, Center for Field Theory and Particle Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
* e-mail: bambi@fudan.edu.cn
Received:
9
January
2014
Accepted:
31
January
2014
Published online:
20
February
2014
We study the homogeneous gravitational collapse of a spherical cloud of matter in a super-renormalizable and asymptotically free theory of gravity. We find a picture that differs substantially from the classical scenario. The central singularity appearing in classical general relativity is replaced by a bounce, after which the cloud re-expands indefinitely. We argue that a black hole, strictly speaking, never forms. The collapse only generates a temporary trapped surface, which can be interpreted as a black hole when the observational timescale is much shorter than the one of the collapse. However, it may also be possible that the gravitational collapse produces a black hole and that after the bounce the original cloud of matter evolves into a new universe.
© The Author(s), 2014
