Symmetric wormholes in Einstein-vector-Gauss-Bonnet theory

TL;DR

This paper constructs symmetric wormhole solutions in Einstein-vector-Gauss-Bonnet theory, exploring their properties, existence conditions, and particle dynamics, with implications for higher curvature gravity models.

Contribution

It introduces new symmetric wormhole solutions in Einstein-vector-Gauss-Bonnet theory with specific coupling functions and analyzes their geometric and physical properties.

Findings

Wormholes can have single or double throats depending on coupling functions.

Solutions require a thin shell of matter at the throat.

Wormholes support bound/unbound particle motion and light rings.

Abstract

We construct wormholes in Einstein-vector-Gauss-Bonnet theory where a real massless vector field is coupled to the higher curvature Gauss-Bonnet invariant. We consider three coupling functions which depend on the square of the vector field. The respective domains of existence of wormholes possess as their boundaries i) black holes, ii) solutions with a singular throat, iii) solutions with a degenerate throat and iv) solutions with cusp singularities. Depending on the coupling function wormhole solutions can feature a single throat or an equator surrounded by a double throat. The wormhole solutions need a thin shell of matter at the throat, in order to be symmetrically continued into the second asymptotically flat region. These wormhole spacetimes allow for bound and unbound particle motion as well as light rings.