Gravitational singularity

Animated simulation of gravitational lensing caused by a Schwarzschild black hole passing in a line-of-sight planar to a background galaxy. Around and at the time of exact alignment (syzygy) extreme lensing of the light is observed.

A gravitational singularity, spacetime singularity, or simply singularity, is a theoretical condition in which gravity is predicted to be so intense that spacetime itself would break down catastrophically. As such, a singularity is by definition no longer part of the regular spacetime and cannot be determined by "where" or "when”. Gravitational singularities exist at a junction between general relativity and quantum mechanics; therefore, the properties of the singularity cannot be described without an established theory of quantum gravity. Trying to find a complete and precise definition of singularities in the theory of general relativity, the current best theory of gravity, remains a difficult problem.[1][2] A singularity in general relativity can be defined by the scalar invariant curvature becoming infinite[3] or, better, by a geodesic being incomplete.[4]

General relativity predicts that any object collapsing beyond a certain point (for stars this is the Schwarzschild radius) would form a black hole, inside which a singularity (covered by an event horizon)[2] would appear (although observers outside the event horizon could never see it).[5] The density would become infinite at the singularity. General relativity also predicts that the initial state of the universe, at the beginning of the Big Bang, was a singularity of infinite density and temperature.[6][obsolete source] However, classical gravitational theories are not expected to be accurate under these conditions, and a quantum description is likely needed.[7] For example, quantum mechanics does not permit particles to inhabit a space smaller than their Compton wavelengths.[8]

  1. ^ Earman 1995, pp. 28–31, Section 2.2 What is a singularity?
  2. ^ a b Curiel, Erik (2021). "Singularities and Black Holes". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Singularities". Physics of the Universe.
  4. ^ Uggla, Claes (2006). "Spacetime Singularities". Einstein Online. 2 (1002). Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics. Archived from the original on 2017-01-24. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  5. ^ Narlikar, J. V.; Padmanabhan, Th. (June 1988). "The Schwarzschild solution: Some conceptual difficulties". Found Phys. 18. Springer Nature: 659–668. doi:10.1007/BF00734568.
  6. ^ Wald 1984, p. 99.
  7. ^ Hawking, Stephen. "The Beginning of Time". Stephen Hawking: The Official Website. Cambridge University. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  8. ^ Zebrowski, Ernest (2000). A History of the Circle: Mathematical Reasoning and the Physical Universe. Piscataway New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. p. 180. ISBN 978-0813528984.

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