Quantum singularities in spherically symmetric, conformally static spacetimes

TL;DR

This paper reviews the extension of quantum singularity concepts to conformally static spacetimes and applies it to spherically symmetric cases, identifying conditions under which quantum effects can resolve classical singularities.

Contribution

It extends the theory of quantum singularities to conformally static spacetimes and applies it to specific spherically symmetric models to determine when quantum effects can heal classical singularities.

Findings

Quantum singularities can be healed in certain parameter ranges.

The study applies Klein-Gordon solutions to analyze singularity resolution.

Classical timelike singularities are not always present at the quantum level.

Abstract

A definition of quantum singularity for the case of static spacetimes has recently been extended to conformally static spacetimes. Here the theory behind quantum singularities in conformally static spacetimes is reviewed, and then applied to a class of spherically symmetric, conformally static spacetimes, including as special cases those studied by Roberts, by Fonarev, and by Husain, Martinez, and N\'u\~nez. We use solutions of the generally coupled, massless Klein-Gordon equation as test fields. In this way we find the ranges of metric parameters and coupling coefficients for which classical timelike singularities in these spacetimes are healed quantum mechanically.