Publication Date
1994
Journal or Book Title
Physics Review D
Abstract
There exists an upper limit on the mass of black holes when the cosmological constant Λ is positive. We study the collision of two black holes whose total mass exceeds this limit. Our investigation is based on a recently discovered exact solution describing the collision of Q=M black holes with Λ>0. The global structure of this solution is analyzed. We find that if the total mass is less than the extremal limit, then the black holes coalesce. If it is greater, then a naked singularity forms to the future of a Cauchy horizon. However, the horizon is not smooth. Generically, there is a mild curvature singularity, which still allows geodesics to be extended. The implications of these results for cosmic censorship are discussed.
Pages
840-852
Volume
49
Issue
2
Recommended Citation
Brill, D; Horowitz, G; Kastor, David; and Traschen, Jennie, "Testing cosmic censorship with black hole collisions" (1994). Physics Review D. 1218.
Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/physics_faculty_pubs/1218
Comments
This is the pre-published version harvested from ArXiv. The published version is located at http://prd.aps.org/abstract/PRD/v49/i2/p840_1