Quantum dress for a naked singularity

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that quantum effects can cause a naked singularity in (2+1)-dimensional spacetime with negative cosmological constant to develop an event horizon, supporting cosmic censorship.

Contribution

It provides the first calculation of quantum stress-energy tensor and backreaction effects on a conical naked singularity in (2+1) dimensions with negative cosmological constant.

Findings

Quantum backreaction creates an event horizon around the naked singularity.

The semiclassical approximation indicates cosmic censorship is enforced.

The study advances understanding of quantum effects on spacetime singularities.

Abstract

We investigate semiclassical backreaction on a conical naked singularity space-time with a negative cosmological constant in (2+1)-dimensions. In particular, we calculate the renormalized quantum stress-energy tensor for a conformally coupled scalar field on such naked singularity space-time. We then obtain the backreacted metric via the semiclassical Einstein equations. We show that, in the regime where the semiclassical approximation can be trusted, backreaction dresses the naked singularity with an event horizon, thus enforcing cosmic censorship.