Clifton's spherical solution in f(R) vacuo harbours a naked singularity

TL;DR

This paper analyzes Clifton's exact f(R)=R^(1+δ) gravity solution, revealing it contains a naked singularity at late times, which challenges the physical viability of such models.

Contribution

It demonstrates that Clifton's spherical solution in f(R) gravity includes a naked singularity, highlighting potential issues with this class of modified gravity models.

Findings

The solution exhibits a strong spacetime singularity.

The singularity becomes naked at late times.

Implications for the physical plausibility of f(R) models.

Abstract

Clifton's exact solution of f(R)=R^(1+\delta) gravity describing a dynamical spherical metric which is asymptotically Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker is studied. It is shown that it harbours a strong spacetime singularity and that this singularity is naked at late times.