Levitating atmospheres around naked singularities

TL;DR

This paper explores the existence of levitating atmospheres around naked singularities, where gravity becomes repulsive, preventing matter from reaching the singularity and forming stable, radiation-free suspended atmospheres.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of levitating atmospheres around naked singularities, highlighting their properties and differences from radiation-supported atmospheres.

Findings

Gravity becomes effectively repulsive near naked singularities

Levitating atmospheres form due to repulsive gravity effects

Maximum density occurs at a specific radius within the atmosphere

Abstract

For a wide class of spherically symmetric naked singularities there is a sphere within which gravity is effectively repulsive. In such spacetimes accreting matter cannot reach the singularity and will instead form a levitating atmosphere, which is kept suspended by gravity alone. The density of the atmosphere has a maximum at a definite radius. In its qualitative properties the atmosphere is analogous to the recently discussed atmospheres that are supported by radiation pressure above luminous neutron stars, however for the levitating atmospheres around a naked singularity no radiation need be present.