A Geometric No-Go Theorem for Regular Black Holes in Scalar-Tensor Theories

Abstract

Perturbative instabilities generically puzzles singularity-free spacetimes, including non-singular bounce, traversible wormholes and regular black holes (RBHs). Can the scalar-tensor (ST) theories that stabilize the first two also stabilize RBHs? We show that the answer is no for static, spherically symmetric RBHs supported by a radial scalar field within a broad class of ST theories. In any RBHs with two-horizon structure, the ratio of the longitudinal scale to the sphere radius must attain an interior maximum. The proper-time derivative of that ratio is associated to the squared propagation speed of odd-parity tensor perturbations by the background field equations in a broad class of scalar-tensor theories. A Lorentzian odd-tensor cone then requires a local minimum instead of a maximum. This conflicts indicate a geometric no-go theorem, covering a broad class of ST theories including spatially covariant gravity, Horndeski theory, quadratic GLPV, DHOST, and U-DHOST theories, and their admissible disformal extensions. Viable RBHs therefore require relaxing at least one geometric or dynamical assumption.