Ricci-Weyl curvature balance in viscous dissipative collapse: A covariant analysis of singularity censorship

Abstract

We investigate the cosmic censorship conjecture in a spherically symmetric collapse with shear and bulk viscosity, heat flux, and pressure anisotropy, imposing physically reasonable energy conditions. Using the semi-tetrad covariant formalism, we derive the dynamics of the collapsing fluid, including a master equation for the evolution of the Weyl curvature, to examine the role of viscosity. The analysis of null geodesic geometry uncovers a novel curvature-balance mechanism between Ricci (matter) and Weyl (free gravitational field) curvature on the apparent horizon; this balance determines the causal nature of the horizon and thereby governs the visibility of the singularity. We then derive necessary and sufficient covariant conditions for the central singularity to be locally naked. Our findings support a weaker form of cosmic censorship and extend the covariant censorship analysis to realistic dissipative, viscous collapse.