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Can quantum mechanics fool the cosmic censor?

G. E. A. Matsas, M. Richartz, A. Saa, A. R. R. da Silva, and D. A. T. Vanzella
Phys. Rev. D 79, 101502(R) – Published 18 May 2009

Abstract

We revisit the mechanism for violating the weak cosmic-censorship conjecture (WCCC) by overspinning a nearly-extreme charged black hole. The mechanism consists of an incoming massless neutral scalar particle, with low energy and large angular momentum, tunneling into the hole. We investigate the effect of the large angular momentum of the incoming particle on the background geometry and address recent claims that such a backreaction would invalidate the mechanism. We show that the large angular momentum of the incident particle does not constitute an obvious impediment to the success of the overspinning quantum mechanism, although the induced backreaction turns out to be essential to restoring the validity of the WCCC in the classical regime. These results seem to endorse the view that the “cosmic censor” may be oblivious to processes involving quantum effects.

  • Received 12 February 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.79.101502

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

G. E. A. Matsas1,*, M. Richartz2,†, A. Saa3,‡, A. R. R. da Silva1,§, and D. A. T. Vanzella4,∥

  • 1Instituto de Física Teórica, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rua Pamplona 145, 01405-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • 2Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin, UNICAMP, C. P. 6165, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
  • 3Departamento de Matemática Aplicada, UNICAMP, C. P. 6065, 13083-859, Campinas, SP, Brazil
  • 4Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, C. P. 369, 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

  • *matsas@ift.unesp.br
  • richartz@ifi.unicamp.br
  • asaa@ime.unicamp.br
  • §dasilva@ift.unesp.br
  • vanzella@ifsc.usp.br

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Issue

Vol. 79, Iss. 10 — 15 May 2009

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