Numerical simulations of gravitational collapse in Einstein-aether theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates gravitational collapse in Einstein-aether theory through numerical simulations, revealing conditions for black hole formation and singularity development depending on aether coupling constants.

Contribution

It develops an initial value formulation and performs numerical simulations of scalar field collapse in Einstein-aether theory, highlighting the impact of coupling constants on outcomes.

Findings

Regular stationary black holes form for small aether couplings.

Large couplings lead to finite area singularities.

Results align with previously known stationary solutions.

Abstract

We study gravitational collapse of a spherically symmetric scalar field in Einstein-aether theory (general relativity coupled to a dynamical unit timelike vector field). The initial value formulation is developed, and numerical simulations are performed. The collapse produces regular, stationary black holes, as long as the aether coupling constants are not too large. For larger couplings a finite area singularity occurs. These results are shown to be consistent with the stationary solutions found previously.