The Total Space-Time of a Point Charge and Its Consequences for Black Holes

Abstract

Singularities associated with an incomplete space-time (S) are not uniquely defined until a boundary is attached to it. [The resulting space-time-with-boundary will be termed a "total" space-time (TST).] Since an incomplete space-time is compatible with a variety of boundaries, it follows that S does not represent a unique universe but instead corresponds to a family of universes, one for each of the distinct TSTs. It is shown here that the boundary attached to the Reissner-Nordstrom space-time for a point charge is invalid for q^2 < m^2. When the correct boundary is used, the resulting TST is inextendible. This implies that the Graves-Brill black hole cannot be produced by gravitational collapse. The same is true of the Kruskal-Fronsdal black hole for the point mass, and for those black holes which reduce to the latter for special values of their parameters.