Nature of Singularities in Vector-Tensor Theories of Gravity

Abstract

The Vector-Tensor (VT) theories of gravity are a class of alternative theories to General Relativity (GR) that are characterized by the presence of a dynamical vector field besides the metric. They are studied in attempts to understand spontaneous Lorentz violation, to generate massive gravitons, and as models of dark matter and dark energy. In this article, I outline how the nature of singularities and horizons in VT theories differ greatly from GR even under the same ordinary conditions. This is illustrated with Einsteinaether theory where vacuum black hole solutions have naked singularities and vacuum cosmological solutions have new singularities that are otherwise absent in GR. It would be interesting to explore these deviations using gravitational waves