Spherically symmetric collapse of a perfect fluid in f(R) gravity

TL;DR

This paper explores how perfect fluid collapse behaves in f(R) gravity, showing that singularities can form and their visibility depends on initial conditions, with potential implications for understanding gravitational collapse in modified gravity theories.

Contribution

It provides an analytical investigation into perfect fluid collapse in f(R) gravity, highlighting conditions for singularity formation and horizon development, which was not extensively studied before.

Findings

Collapse can lead to curvature singularities.

Apparent horizon formation depends on initial conditions.

Collapse behavior differs from general relativity predictions.

Abstract

The present work investigates the gravitational collapse of a perfect fluid in $f(R)$ gravity models. For a general $f(R)$ theory, it is shown analytically that a collapse is quite possible. The singularity formed as a result of the collapse is found to be a curvature singularity of shell focusing type. The possibility of the formation of an apparent horizon hiding the central singularity depends on the initial conditions.