10655833
Quantum measurement and quantum gravity: many-worlds or collapse of the wavefunction?
At present, there are two possible, and equally plausible, explanations for the physics of quantum measurement. The first explanation, known as the many-worlds interpretation, does not require any modification of quantum mechanics, and asserts that at the time of measurement the Universe splits into many branches, one branch for every possible alternative. The various branches do not interfere with each other because of decoherence, thus providing a picture broadly consistent with the observed Universe. The second explanation, which requires quantum mechanics to be modified from its presently known form, is that at the time of measurement the wavefunction collapses into one of the possible alternatives. The two explanations are mutually exclusive, and up until now, no theoretical reasoning has been put forward to choose one explanation over the other. In this article, we provide an argument which implies that the collapse interpretation is favored over the many-worlds interpretation. Our starting point is the assertion (which we justify) that there ought to exist a reformulation of quantum mechanics which does not refer to a classical spacetime manifold. The need for such a reformulation implies that quantum theory becomes nonlinear on the Planck mass/energy scale. Standard linear quantum mechanics is an approximation to this nonlinear theory, valid at energy scales much smaller than the Planck scale. Using ideas based on noncommutative differential geometry, we develop such a reformulation and derive a nonlinear Schrodinger equation, which can explain collapse of the wavefunction. We also obtain an expression for the lifetime of a quantum superposition. We suggest ideas for an experimental test of this model.
16490636
The final fate of spherical inhomogeneous dust collapse
We examine, in a general manner, the role played by the initial density and velocity distributions in the gravitational collapse of a spherically symmetric inhomogeneous dust cloud. Such a collapse is described by the Tolman - Bondi metric which has two free functions: the `mass function' and the `energy function', which are determined by the initial density and velocity profiles of the cloud. The collapse can end in either a black hole or a naked singularity, depending on the initial parameters characterizing these profiles. In the marginally bound case, we find that the collapse ends in a naked singularity if the leading non-vanishing derivative of the density at the centre is either the first one or the second one. If the first two derivatives are zero, and the third derivative non-zero, the singularity could either be naked or covered, depending on a quantity determined by the third derivative and the central density. If the first three derivatives are zero, the collapse ends in a black hole. In particular, the classic result of Oppenheimer and Snyder, that homogeneous dust collapse leads to a black hole, is recovered as a special case. Analogous results are found when the cloud is not marginally bound, and also for the case of a cloud starting from rest. A condition on the initial density profile is given for the singularity to be globally naked. We also show how the strength of the naked singularity depends on the density and velocity distribution. Our analysis generalizes and simplifies the earlier works of Christodoulou and Newman by dropping the assumption of evenness of density functions. It turns out that relaxing this assumption allows for a smooth transition from the naked singularity phase to the black hole phase, and also allows for the occurrence of strong curvature naked singularities.
24124943
Toward a quantization of null dust collapse
Spherically symmetric, null dust clouds, like their timelike counterparts, may collapse classically into black holes or naked singularities depending on their initial conditions. We consider the Hamiltonian dynamics of the collapse of an arbitrary distribution of null dust, expressed in terms of the physical radius R, the null coordinates, V for a collapsing cloud or U for an expanding cloud, the mass function m of the null matter, and their conjugate momenta. This description is obtained from the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner description by a Kucha\ifmmode \check{r}\else \v{r}\fi{}-type canonical transformation. The constraints are linear in the canonical momenta and Dirac's constraint quantization program is implemented. Explicit solutions to the constraints are obtained for both expanding and contracting null dust clouds with arbitrary mass functions.
1570088
Radiation flux and spectrum in the Vaidya collapse model
Abstract We consider the quantization of a massless scalar field, using the geometric optics approximation, in the background spacetime of a collapsing spherical self-similar Vaidya star, which forms a black hole or a naked singularity. We show that the outgoing radiation flux of the quantized scalar field diverges on the Cauchy horizon. The spectrum of the produced scalar partcles is non-thermal when the background develops a naked singularity. These results are analogous to those obtained for the scalar quantization on a self-similar dust cloud.
119086760
Comparing quantum black holes and naked singularities
There are models of gravitational collapse in classical general relativity which admit the formation of naked singularities as well as black holes. These include fluid models as well as models with scalar fields as matter. Even if fluid models were to be regarded as unphysical in their matter content, the remaining class of models (based on scalar fields) generically admit the formation of visible regions of finite but arbitrarily high curvature. Hence it is of interest to ask, from the point of view of astrophysics, as to what a stellar collapse leading to a naked singularity (or to a visible region of very high curvature) will look like, to a far away observer. The emission of energy during such a process may be divided into three phases - (i) the classical phase, during which matter and gravity can both be treated according to the laws of classical physics, (ii) the semiclassical phase, when gravity is treated classically but matter behaves as a quantum field, and (iii) the quantum gravitational phase. In this review, we first give a summary of the status of naked singularities in classical relativity, and then report some recent results comparing the semiclassical phase of black holes with the semiclassical phase of spherical collapse leading to a naked singularity. In particular, we ask how the quantum particle creation during the collapse leading to a naked singularity compares with the Hawking radiation from a star collapsing to form a black hole. It turns out that there is a fundamental difference between the two cases. A spherical naked star emits only about one Planck energy during its semiclassical phase, and the further evolution can only be determined by the laws of quantum gravity. This contrasts with the semiclassical evaporation of a black hole.
118510273
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN "EMERGENCE OF TIME FROM QUANTUM GRAVITY" AND "DYNAMICAL COLLAPSE OF THE WAVE FUNCTION IN QUANTUM MECHANICS"
There are various reasons to believe that quantum theory could be an emergent phenomenon. Trace dynamics is an underlying classical dynamics of noncommuting matrices, from which quantum theory and classical mechanics have been shown to emerge, in the thermodynamic approximation. However, the time that is used to describe evolution in quantum theory is an external classical time, and is in turn expected to be an emergent feature — a relic of an underlying theory of quantum gravity. In this essay we borrow ideas from trace dynamics to show that classical time is a thermodynamic approximation to an operator time in quantum gravitational physics. This prediction will be put to test by ongoing laboratory experiments attempting to construct superposed states of macroscopic objects.
117803800
Tolman's solutions in higher dimensional space-time.
122726731
Bianchi type-I, V and VIo models in modified generalized scalar-tensor theory
AbstractIn modified generalized scalar-tensor (GST) theory, the cosmological term Λ is a function of the scalar field ϕ and its derivatives $$
\dot \phi ^2 
$$. We obtain exact solutions of the field equations in Bianchi Type-I, V and VIo space-times. The evolution of the scale factor, the scalar field and the cosmological term has been discussed. The Bianchi Type-I model has been discussed in detail. Further, Bianchi Type-V and VIo models can be studied on the lines similar to Bianchi Type-I model.
116059635
Viscous cosmological models with particle creation in Brans-Dicke theory
The effect of bulk viscosity on the evolution of the spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models in the context of open thermodynamical systems, which allow particle creation, is analyzed within the framework of Brans-Dicke theory. Particle creation and bulk viscosity have been considered as separated irreversible processes. To accommodate the viscous pressure and creation pressure, which is associated with creation of matter out of gravitational field, the energy-momentum tensor is modified. Dynamical behaviour of the models have been discussed.
122321601
Scalar-tensor theories of gravitation: Foundations and prospects
A generalization of Einstein's theory is discussed in which the gravitation is described by a tensor and a scalar field. The theory is more consistent with Mach's principle and less reliant on absolute properties of space. The modification involves a violation of the “strong principle of equivalence” on which Einstein's theory is based. In the original version of this new theory, the “constant” of gravitationG is varying and particle masses are fixed. Later on another version of the theory was given in whichG is truly a constant and the particle masses vary. The two versions are related by a conformal transformation. The physical and mathematical foundations of this theory have been discussed and the field equations have been derived. The astrophysical and cosmological consequences of the theory have been elaborately reviewed.
117560530
Confrontation of QMD model with the experimental data for $^{40}Ar$ +$^{45}$Sc, $^{197}Au$ +$^{197}$Au and $^{129}Xe$ +$^{119}$Sn reactions
In the present work, we make confrontation of our theoretical calculations using quantum molecular dynamics model with the experimental data for the reactions of $^{40}Ar$ +$^{45}$Sc, $^{197}Au$ +$^{197}$Au and $^{129}Xe$ +$^{119}$Sn at different incident energies. In these reactions, we display the charge distribution and energy dependence of fragments multiplicity. Our results indicate good agreement with the experimental data for all the reactions.