Model for gravitational collapse in effective quantum gravity

TL;DR

This paper presents a non-perturbative quantum gravity model for gravitational collapse, revealing a mass gap and oscillations near black hole formation threshold, differing from classical predictions.

Contribution

It introduces an anomaly-free quantum gravity correction to classical collapse models, enabling numerical simulation of quantum effects in gravitational collapse.

Findings

Reproduces classical collapse results for large initial data

Shows a mass gap at black hole formation threshold

Exhibits oscillations near the critical point

Abstract

We describe a non-perturbative approach to studying the gravitational collapse of a scalar field in spherical symmetry with quantum gravity corrections. Quantum effects are described by a phase space function that modifies the constraints of general relativity but does not affect the closure of their algebra. The model may be viewed as one that incorporates a class of anomaly-free quantum gravity effects. Numerical simulations of the resulting field equations show that the model reproduces known classical results for sufficiently massive initial data but gives a dramatic change at the threshold of black hole formation characterized by oscillations and a mass gap.