Attractive voids

TL;DR

This paper investigates how relativistic effects like mass deficits in General Relativity could explain dark matter phenomena by showing that external mass can vastly exceed internal energy in certain models.

Contribution

It introduces models demonstrating that negative intrinsic curvature and volume deficits can lead to apparent mass excesses, offering a new perspective on dark matter without requiring additional matter.

Findings

External (ADM) mass can greatly exceed internal energy in certain relativistic models.

Volume deficits associated with negative curvature can mimic dark matter effects.

Constructed models show contracting or expanding objects with different lifetimes from the universe.

Abstract

We explore the well know mass deficit/surplus phenomenon in General Relativity to suggest that it could play a part in the dark matter conundrum. Specifically in collapses and condensations of matter associated with negative intrinsic curvature of the foliation associated with the asymptotic boundary conditions, the external (ADM) mass can vastly exceed the integrated local energy over the internal volume. This can be phrased in terms of a deficit of volume for a given surface area (with respect to zero curvature). We explore the phenomenon in the context of generalizations of the Oppenheimer-Snyder models and other "cut and paste" models, the Lemaitre-Bondi-Tolman metric and several others. We produce constructions where the internal object is contracting or expanding, has a life time different from the asymptotic Universe, as well as a volume different than the escavated volume from the Universe. These are purely relativistic constructions and they could play a role in the puzzle of dark matter: attraction without visible or indeed any matter.