Quantum Singularities

TL;DR

This paper reviews classical and quantum singularities in general relativity, showing how quantum effects can resolve classical singularities in certain symmetric spacetimes by introducing a repulsive potential.

Contribution

It demonstrates that quantum mechanical effects can eliminate classical singularities in specific symmetric spacetimes through a repulsive potential mechanism.

Findings

Quantum singularities occur in certain symmetric spacetimes.

A repulsive potential near classical singularities makes spacetime quantum mechanically nonsingular.

Quantum effects can resolve classical singularities in general relativity.

Abstract

The definitions of classical and quantum singularities in general relativity are reviewed. The occurence of quantum mechanical singularities in certain spherically symmetric and cylindrically symmetric (including infinite line mass)spacetimes is considered. A strong repulsive ``potential'' near the classical singularity is shown to turn a classically singular spacetime into a quantum mechanically nonsingular spacetime.