Modified general relativity as a model for quantum gravitational collapse

TL;DR

This paper explores a modified version of general relativity to model quantum gravitational collapse, revealing altered mass scaling laws, the presence of a mass gap, and robustness across various initial conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a class of Hamiltonian deformations of Einstein-Klein-Gordon equations that preserve the constraint algebra and provides numerical evidence of modified collapse dynamics.

Findings

Choptuik's mass scaling law is modified by a mass gap.

The modified equations exhibit jagged oscillations.

Results are universal and robust across different initial data profiles.

Abstract

We study a class of Hamiltonian deformations of the massless Einstein-Klein-Gordon system in spherical symmetry for which the Dirac constraint algebra closes. The system may be regarded as providing effective equations for quantum gravitational collapse. Guided by the observation that scalar field fluxes do not follow metric null directions due to the deformation, we find that the equations take a simple form in characteristic coordinates. We analyse these equations by a unique combination of numerical methods and find that Choptuik's mass scaling law is modified by a mass gap as well as jagged oscillations. Furthermore, the results are universal with respect to different initial data profiles and robust under changes of the deformation.