Spherically symmetric spacetimes with a trapped surface

TL;DR

This paper studies spherically symmetric spacetimes with trapped surfaces, proving that their presence guarantees event horizon formation and completeness of future null infinity, with implications for black hole physics.

Contribution

It establishes a rigorous link between trapped surfaces and the global structure of spherically symmetric Einstein-matter spacetimes, including horizon formation.

Findings

Existence of a trapped surface implies event horizon formation.

Future null infinity is complete in these spacetimes.

Event horizon area radius is bounded by twice the final Bondi mass.

Abstract

This paper investigates the global properties of a class of spherically symmetric spacetimes. The class contains the maximal development of asymptotically flat spherically symmetric initial data for a wide variety of coupled Einstein-matter systems. For this class, it is proven here that the existence of a single trapped surface or marginally trapped surface implies the completeness of future null infinity and the formation of an event horizon whose area radius is bounded by twice the final Bondi mass.