Quantum Naked Singularities in 2d Dilaton Gravity

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum effects in 2D dilaton gravity models prevent the formation of naked singularities by causing them to explode or radiate catastrophically, supporting the Cosmic Censorship conjecture.

Contribution

It demonstrates that quantum Hawking radiation and back reaction inhibit naked singularity formation in 2D dilaton gravity, providing a quantum defense of the Cosmic Censorship conjecture.

Findings

Quantum effects cause naked singularities to explode or radiate catastrophically.

Naked singularities are prevented from forming through Hawking radiation back reaction.

Potential observable consequences if similar phenomena occur in four dimensions.

Abstract

Roughly speaking, naked singularities are singularities that may be seen by timelike observers. The Cosmic Censorship conjecture forbids their existence by stating that a reasonable system of energy will not, under reasonable conditions, collapse into a naked singularity. There are however many (classical) counter-examples to this conjecture in the literature. We propose a defense of the conjecture through the quantum theory. We will show that the Hawking effect and the accompanying back reaction, when consistently applied to naked singularities in two dimensional models of dilaton gravity with matter and a cosmological constant, prevent their formation by causing them to explode or emit radiation catastrophically. This contrasts with black holes which radiate slowly. If this phenomenon is reproduced in the four dimensional world, the explosion of naked singularities should have observable consequences.