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Black hole hair formation in shift-symmetric generalised scalar-tensor gravity. (English) Zbl 1368.83057

Summary: A linear coupling between a scalar field and the Gauss-Bonnet invariant is the only known interaction term between a scalar and the metric that: respects shift symmetry; does not lead to higher order equations; inevitably introduces black hole hair in asymptotically flat, 4-dimensional spacetimes. Here we focus on the simplest theory that includes such a term and we explore the dynamical formation of scalar hair. In particular, we work in the decoupling limit that neglects the backreaction of the scalar onto the metric and evolve the scalar configuration numerically in the background of a Schwarzschild black hole and a collapsing dust star described by the Oppenheimer-Snyder solution. For all types of initial data that we consider, the scalar relaxes at late times to the known, static, analytic configuration that is associated with a hairy, spherically symmetric black hole. This suggests that the corresponding black hole solutions are indeed endpoints of collapse.

MSC:

83D05 Relativistic gravitational theories other than Einstein’s, including asymmetric field theories
83C57 Black holes
53Z05 Applications of differential geometry to physics
83C75 Space-time singularities, cosmic censorship, etc.