Gravitational collapse of a minimally coupled massless scalar field

Abstract

We study here the evolution of a massless scalar field in a spacetime, developing from a regular initial spacelike surface. The Einstein equations and regularity and boundary conditions governing the same are specified. Both homogeneous and inhomogeneous collapse models are considered and we analyze when the occurrence of singularity will be simultaneous or otherwise. In the inhomogeneous collapse case, we characterize a wide family of black hole solutions arising in scalar field collapse. We also discuss the possibility of existence of classes of non-singular models where collapse could almost freeze if suitable conditions are satisfied.