A proof of the strong cosmic censorship conjecture

TL;DR

This paper provides a concise proof, based on thermodynamics, confirming the strong cosmic censorship conjecture's validity in realistic black-hole spacetimes, ensuring the deterministic nature of general relativity.

Contribution

It offers a novel, compact proof of the Penrose strong cosmic censorship conjecture using Bekenstein's generalized second law of thermodynamics.

Findings

Cauchy horizons are unstable in dynamically formed black holes

The conjecture holds in physically realistic black-hole spacetimes

Thermodynamics underpins the proof of cosmic censorship

Abstract

The Penrose strong cosmic censorship conjecture asserts that Cauchy horizons inside dynamically formed black holes are unstable to remnant matter fields that fall into the black holes. The physical importance of this conjecture stems from the fact that it provides a necessary condition for general relativity to be a truly deterministic theory of gravity. Determining the fate of the Penrose conjecture in non-asymptotically flat black-hole spacetimes has been the focus of intense research efforts in recent years. In the present essay we provide a remarkably compact proof, which is based on Bekenstein's generalized second law of thermodynamics, for the validity of the intriguing Penrose conjecture in physically realistic (dynamically formed) curved black-hole spacetimes.