Scalar Black Holes

Abstract

A class of exact regular spherically symmetric solutions to the Einstein equation obeying Dymnikova's definition of the vacuumlike state is considered. These solutions, which may be interpreted as black holes, are not only singularity free, but also do not set us thinking about the loss of information under gravitational collapse. According to the singularity theorems, the geometries introduced by these solutions inevitably have some causal pathology. However, if the vacuumlike state is reinterpreted to be a sort of `confinement' representing a particular phase of matter, this pathology under certain conditions does not involve actual causality violation. By means of that, the above class of solutions, and probably much broader variety of solutions including dynamic ones, may be incorporated into General Relativity. There are listed other phenomena, such as `hidden mass', that could help to identify the presence of vacuumlike phase.