# References

A Simple Derivation of the Naked Singularity

in Spherical Dust Collapse

Sukratu Barve<sup>1</sup><sup>1</sup>1e-mail address: sukkoo@relativity.tifr.res.in, T. P. Singh<sup>2</sup><sup>2</sup>2 e-mail address: tpsingh@tifr.res.in

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,

Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, India.

Cenalo Vaz<sup>3</sup><sup>3</sup>3 e-mail address: cvaz@haar.pha.jhu.edu<sup>4</sup><sup>4</sup>4 On leave of absence from the Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

Department of Physics, The Johns Hopkins University, 

Baltimore, MD 21218, USA

Louis Witten<sup>5</sup><sup>5</sup>5 e-mail address: witten@physics.uc.edu

Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati,

Cincinnati, OH 45221-0011, USA

Abstract

We describe a simple method of determining whether the singularity that forms in the spherically symmetric collapse of inhomogeneous dust is naked or covered. This derivation considerably simplifies the analysis given in the earlier literature, while giving the same results as have been obtained before.

Various authors have shown that the spherical gravitational collapse of inhomogeneous dust results in the formation of a curvature singularity which is naked for certain initial conditions, and covered for other initial conditions. Probably the first (numerical) results on this problem are due to Eardley and Smarr  . This was followed by the analytical work of Christodoulou  and Newman  who considered smooth initial data. Their results were generalised, among others, by Ori and Piran , and by Dwivedi, Jhingan, Joshi and Singh , . As is only to be expected, in one way or the other, these works all deal with propagation of null geodesics in the spacetime of collapsing dust.

While successive works have succeeded in simplifying the earlier analysis, perhaps it can be said that the discussions continue to remain somewhat involved. In the present paper, we describe a short but straightforward method of showing whether the naked singularity in the dust model is covered or naked. We reproduce results obtained previously by other methods. We restrict attention to the marginally bound dust collapse - similar principles may be used to derive results for the non-marginally bound case.

In comoving coordinates $`(t,r,\theta ,\varphi )`$ the spacetime metric for spherical dust collapse is given by

$$ds^2=dt^2R^2dr^2R^2d\mathrm{\Omega }^2$$
(1)   
where $`R(t,r)`$ is the area radius at time $`t`$ of the shell having the comoving coordinate $`r`$. A prime denotes partial derivative w.r.t. $`r`$. The energy-momentum tensor for dust has only one non-zero component $`T_0^0=ϵ(t,r)`$, which is the energy density. The Einstein equations for the collapsing cloud are

$$\frac{8\pi G}{c^4}ϵ(t,r)=\frac{F^{}}{R^2R^{}},\dot{R}^2=\frac{F(r)}{R}.$$
(2)   
A dot denotes partial derivative w.r.t. time $`t`$. The function $`F(r)`$ results from the integration of the second order equations. Henceforth we shall set $`8\pi G/c^4=1`$.

The second of these equations can be easily solved to get

$$R^{3/2}(t,r)=r^{3/2}\frac{3}{2}\sqrt{F}t$$
(3)   
where we have used the freedom in the scaling of the comoving coordinate $`r`$ to set $`R(0,r)=r`$ at the starting epoch of collapse, $`t=0`$. It follows from the first equation in (2) that the function $`F(r)`$ gets fixed once the initial density distribution $`ϵ(0,r)=\rho (r)`$ is given, i.e.

$$F(r)=\rho (r)r^2𝑑r.$$
(4)   
Hence $`F(r)`$ has the interpretation of being twice the mass to the interior of the shell labeled $`r`$. If the initial density $`\rho (r)`$ has a series expansion

$$\rho (r)=\rho _0+\rho _1r+\frac{1}{2!}\rho _2r^2+\frac{1}{3!}\rho _3r^3+\mathrm{}$$
(5)   
near the center $`r=0`$, the resulting series expansion for the mass function $`F(r)`$ is

$$F(r)=F_0r^3+F_1r^4+F_2r^5+F_3r^6+\mathrm{}$$
(6)   
where $`F_q=\rho _q/q!(q+3)`$, and $`q=0,1,2,3..`$We note that we could set $`\rho _1=0`$ without in any way affecting the conclusions of this paper. Further, the first non-vanishing derivative in the series expansion in (5) should be negative, as we will consider only density functions which decrease as one moves out from the center.

According to (3) the area radius of the shell $`r`$ shrinks to zero at the time $`t_c(r)`$ given by

$$t_c(r)=\frac{2r^{3/2}}{3\sqrt{F(r)}}.$$
(7)   
At $`t=t_c(r)`$ the Kretschmann scalar

$$K=12\frac{F^2}{R^4R^2}32\frac{FF^{}}{R^5R^{}}+48\frac{F^2}{R^6}$$
(8)   
diverges at the shell labeled $`r`$ and hence this represents the formation of a curvature singularity at $`r.`$ In particular, the central singularity, i.e. the one at $`r=0`$, forms at the time

$$t_0=\frac{2}{3\sqrt{F_0}}=\frac{2}{\sqrt{3\rho _0}}.$$
(9)   
At $`t=t_0`$ the Kretschmann scalar diverges at $`r=0`$. Near $`r=0,`$ we can expand $`F(r)`$ and approximately write for the singularity curve

$$t_c(r)=t_0\frac{F_n}{3F_0^{3/2}}r^n.$$
(10)   
Here, $`F_n`$ is the first non-vanishing term beyond $`F_0`$ in the expansion (6). We note that $`t_c(r)>t_0`$, since $`F_n`$ is negative.

We wish to investigate if the singularity at $`t=t_0,r=0`$ is naked, i.e. are there one or more outgoing null geodesics which terminate in the past at the central singularity. We restrict attention to radial null geodesics. Let us start by assuming that one or more such geodesics exist, and then checking if this assumption is correct. Let us take the geodesic to have the form

$$t=t_0+ar^\alpha $$
(11)   
to leading order, in the $`tr`$ plane, where $`a>0`$, $`\alpha >0`$. In order for this geodesic to lie in the spacetime, we conclude by comparing with (10) that $`\alpha n`$, and in addition, if $`\alpha =n`$, then $`a<F_n/3F_0^{3/2}`$.

As is evident from the form (1) of the metric, an outgoing null geodesic must satisfy the equation

$$\frac{dt}{dr}=R^{}.$$
(12)   
In order to calculate $`R^{}`$ near $`r=0`$ we first write the solution (3) with only the leading term $`F_n`$ retained in $`F(r)`$ in (6). This gives

$$R=r\left(1\frac{3}{2}\sqrt{F_0}\left[1+\frac{F_n}{2F_0}r^n\right]t\right)^{2/3}.$$
(13)   
Differentiating this w.r.t. $`r`$ gives

$$R^{}=\left(1\frac{3}{2}\sqrt{F_0}\left[1+\frac{F_n}{2F_0}r^n\right]t\right)^{1/3}\left(1\frac{3}{2}\sqrt{F_0}t\frac{(2n+3)F_n}{4\sqrt{F_0}}r^nt\right).$$
(14)   
Along the assumed geodesic, $`t`$ is given by (11). Substituting this in $`R^{}`$ and equating the resulting $`R^{}`$ to $`dt/dr=\alpha ar^{\alpha 1}`$ gives

$$\alpha ar^{\alpha 1}=\frac{\left(1\frac{3}{2}\sqrt{F_0}\left[t_0+ar^\alpha \right]\frac{(2n+3)F_n}{4\sqrt{F_0}}r^n\left[t_0+ar^\alpha \right]\right)}{\left(1\frac{3}{2}\sqrt{F_0}\left[1+\frac{F_n}{2F_0}r^n\right]\left[t_0+ar^\alpha \right]\right)^{1/3}}.$$
(15)   
This is the key equation. If it admits a self-consistent solution then the singularity will be naked (i.e. at least one outgoing null geodesic will terminate at the singularity), otherwise not. We simplify this equation by putting in the requirement mentioned earlier, that $`\alpha n`$. Consider first $`\alpha >n`$. In this case we get, to leading order

$$\alpha ar^{\alpha 1}=\left(1+\frac{2n}{3}\right)\left(\frac{F_n}{2F_0}\right)^{2/3}r^{2n/3}$$
(16)   
which implies that $`\alpha =1+2n/3`$, and $`a=(F_n/2F_0)^{2/3}`$. By substituting integral values for $`n`$ we find that only for $`n=1`$ and $`n=2`$ the condition $`\alpha >n`$ is satisfied. Hence the singularity is naked for $`n=1`$ and $`n=2`$, i.e. for the models $`\rho _1<0`$ and for $`\rho _1=0,\rho _2<0`$. There is at least one outgoing geodesic given by (11) which terminates in the central singularity in the past. If $`n>3`$ then the condition $`\alpha >n`$ cannot be satisfied and the singularity is not naked. This is the case $`\rho _1=\rho _2=\rho _3=0`$.

Consider next that $`\alpha =n`$. In this case we get from (15) that

$$nar^{n1}=\frac{\frac{3}{2}a\sqrt{F_0}\frac{(2n+3)F_n}{6\sqrt{F_0}}}{\left(\frac{F_n}{2F_0}\frac{3a}{2}\sqrt{F_0}\right)^{1/3}}r^{2n/3}$$
(17)   
which implies that $`n=3`$ and gives an implicit expression for $`a`$ in terms of $`F_3`$ and $`F_0`$. This expression for $`a`$ can be simplified to get the following quartic for $`a`$:

$$12\sqrt{F_0}a^4a^3(4F_3/F_0+F_0^{3/2})3F_3a^23F_3^2/F_0^{3/2}a(F_3/F_0)^3=0.$$
(18)   
By defining $`b=a/F_0`$ and $`\xi =F_3/F_0^{5/2}`$ this quartic can be written as

$$4b^3(3b+\xi )(b+\xi )^3=0.$$
(19)   
The singularity will be naked if this equation admits one or more positive roots for $`b`$ which satisfy the constraint $`b<\xi /3`$. This last inequality is the same as the condition $`a<F_n/3F_0^{3/2}`$ given below equation (11). We note that $`\xi `$ is negative. This quartic can be made amenable to further analysis by substituting $`Y=2b/\xi ,`$ and then $`\eta =1/6\xi `$, so as to get

$$Y^3(Y2/3)\eta (Y2)^3=0.$$
(20)   
As discussed in  this quartic has two positive real roots provided $`\eta \eta _1`$ or $`\eta \eta _2`$ where

$$\eta _1=\frac{26}{3}+5\sqrt{3},\eta _2=\frac{26}{3}5\sqrt{3}.$$
(21)   
We also require that $`Y<2/3`$. By examining the quartic (20) one can see that if $`\eta \eta _1`$ then $`Y2`$; hence this range of $`\eta `$ is ruled out. Thus the singularity is naked provided $`\eta \eta _2`$, or equivalently $`\xi 25.9904`$.

This completes the analysis to decide whether or not the central singularity is naked, and we get the same results as have been given earlier in the literature, albeit in a much simpler manner. Now we examine whether or not there is an entire family of radial null geodesics which terminate at the naked singularity. For this purpose we assume a solution for the geodesics correct to one order beyond the solution (11), i.e. we take

$$t=t_0+ar^\alpha +dr^{\alpha +\beta }.$$
(22)   
where $`d`$ and $`\beta `$ are constants to be determined, and $`a`$ and $`\alpha `$ take the values calculated above. As before, we substitute this form of $`t(r)`$ in the expression (14) for $`R^{}`$ to get

$$R^{}=\frac{\left(1\frac{3}{2}\sqrt{F_0}\left[t_0+ar^\alpha +dr^{\alpha +\beta }\right]\frac{(2n+3)F_n}{4\sqrt{F_0}}r^n\left[t_0+ar^\alpha +dr^{\alpha +\beta }\right]\right)}{\left(1\frac{3}{2}\sqrt{F_0}\left[1+\frac{F_n}{2F_0}r^n\right]\left[t_0+ar^\alpha +dr^{\alpha +\beta }\right]\right)^{1/3}}.$$
(23)   
Next, we equate this $`R^{}`$ to the $`dt/dr`$ calculated from (22). For the cases $`n=1,2`$ we get, after retaining terms up to second order

$$\alpha ar^{\alpha 1}+(\alpha +\beta )dr^{\alpha +\beta 1}=\left(1+\frac{2n}{3}\right)\left(\frac{F_n}{2F_0}\right)^{2/3}r^{2n/3}+Dr^{\alpha n/3}.$$
(24)   
As before, at the leading order $`a`$ and $`\alpha `$ get fixed. At the next order, we get $`\beta =1+n/3`$ and $`d=D/(2+n/3)`$ where

$$D=\frac{3}{2}\sqrt{F_0}\left(\frac{F_n}{2F_0}\right)^{1/3}\left[1+\frac{1}{3}\left(1+\frac{2n}{3}\right)\left(\frac{F_n}{2F_0}\right)^{2/3}\right].$$
(25)   
It thus follows, according to (22), that when $`n=1,2`$ there is to this order only one outgoing geodesic, having the values of $`d`$ and $`\beta `$ given above.

Consider next $`n=3`$. By repeating the above calculation of $`R^{}`$ we get

$$R^{}=\frac{3}{2}2^{1/3}F_0\frac{\xi +b}{\left(\xi +3b\right)^{1/3}}r^2+3.2^{1/3}bd\frac{1}{\left(\xi +3b\right)^{4/3}}r^{2+\beta }+O(r^5).$$
(26)   
Here, $`O(r^5)`$ is a term of order $`r^5`$ which is independent of $`d`$. Further analysis depends on whether or not $`\beta `$ is less than $`3`$. Assume first that $`\beta <3`$. Then the $`O(r^5)`$ term can be ignored. By equating $`R^{}`$ to $`dt/dr=3ar^2+(3+\beta )dr^{2+\beta }`$, we get the earlier quartic (19) for $`b`$. At the next order, $`d`$ drops out and one gets an equation for $`\beta `$, i.e.

$$3+\beta =3b.2^{1/3}\frac{1}{\left(\xi +3b\right)^{4/3}}.$$
(27)   
Since $`d`$ drops out, this means that $`d`$ is arbitrary, and there will be an entire family of outgoing null geodesics terminating at the singularity, provided $`\beta `$ is non-negative. It is essential that $`\beta `$ be non-negative, otherwise these geodesics will not lie in the spacetime, as is evident from a comparison with the singularity curve (10). As we saw above, the quartic (20) and hence (19) has two positive roots in the naked singular range. We now show that $`\beta `$ as defined in (27) is positive at one of the roots, and negative at the other root. Let us write the quartic (20) as $`V(Y)=0`$ where

$$V(Y)=Y^3\left(\frac{2}{3}Y\right)\alpha (2Y)^3.$$
(28)   
It is then easily shown that

$$\left(\frac{dV}{dY}\right)_{Y=Y_0}=\beta Y_0^2\left(\frac{2}{3}Y_0\right)$$
(29)   
where $`Y_0`$ is a real, positive root of the quartic. Since the derivative $`dV/dY`$ must be positive at one of the roots and negative at the other, and since $`Y_0<2/3`$ it follows that $`\beta `$ is positive at one of the roots and negative at the other. Hence one of the roots admits only one outgoing geodesic (for which $`d`$=$`0`$) while the other root admits an entire family of outgoing geodesics. It is easily verified that the family emerges from the larger of the two roots, which lies closer to the singularity curve (10).

However, it also turns out, as is verified numerically, that the positive value of $`\beta `$ does not remain below $`3`$ for all $`\xi `$. It can be shown that $`\beta `$ can be written as

$$\beta =\frac{Y^28Y+4}{\left(2/3Y\right)\left(2Y\right)}.$$
(30)   
For values of $`\xi `$ smaller than a certain critical value, $`\beta `$ becomes larger than $`3`$, so that then the $`O(r^5)`$ term in (26) dominates over the term proportional to $`r^{2+\beta }.`$ For such cases, we get from $`dt/dr=R^{}`$ that $`\beta =3`$, and $`d`$ also gets fixed at a particular value. In order to see the family of outgoing rays we will have to look at higher order terms in the various expansions.

Consider next the case of ingoing rays, given by $`dt/dr=R^{}`$, for which we take

$$t=t_0er^3gr^{3+\gamma }$$
(31)   
(We consider only the case $`n=3`$). The expression for $`R^{}`$ is

$$R^{}=\frac{3}{2}2^{1/3}F_0\frac{h\xi }{\left(3h\xi \right)^{1/3}}r^2+\frac{3hg}{4}2^{4/3}\frac{1}{\left(\xi 3h\right)^{4/3}}r^{2+\gamma }$$
(32)   
where $`h=eF_0`$. Equating this to $`dt/dr=3er^2(3+\gamma )gr^{2+\gamma }`$ gives, at order $`r^2,`$ the following quartic for $`h`$

$$h^3(12h4\xi )+(h\xi )^3=0$$
(33)   
which admits a positive root $`h`$ for all $`\xi `$, as expected, so that there is always an ingoing ray. However at the next order, we get the relation

$$(3+\gamma )=\frac{3h}{4}2^{4/3}\frac{1}{\left(\xi 3h\right)^{4/3}}$$
(34)   
which cannot be satisfied, unless $`g=0`$, since the l.h.s. is negative and the r.h.s. positive. This shows that there is only one ingoing ray to all orders in the expansion.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We acknowledge partial support of the Junta Nacional de Investigacão Científica e Tecnológica (JNICT) Portugal, under contract number CERN/S/FAE/1172/97. C. V. and L. W. acknowledge the partial support of NATO, under contract number CRG 920096; L. W. acknowledges the partial support of the U. S. Department of Energy under contract number DOE-FG02-84ER40153 and C.V. acknowledges the partial support of the FCT under contract number FMRH/BSAB/54/98.