Gravitational Collapse of a Massless Scalar Field in a Theory of Minimally Modified Gravity

Abstract: This thesis explores the spherically symmetric gravitational collapse of a massless scalar field in a minimally modified gravity theory denoted VCDM (V replaces $\Lambda$ in the $\Lambda$CDM abbreviation), a class of theories propagating the same degrees of freedom as general relativity at the expense of broken 4D diffeomorphism invariance. Numerical evolution of the equations of motion reveals that for small initial scalar profile amplitudes, no black hole forms from the collapse. However, for larger amplitudes, collapse leads to an apparent horizon's formation in finite time. Outside the horizon, the solution resembles the Schwarzschild geometry, while inside, the lapse function continues to decrease toward zero, implying the formation of a singularity/foliation breakdown. This suggests a need for a UV completion for the theory inside the horizon. Despite this, VCDM can describe the entire time evolution of the universe outside the black hole horizon without requiring knowledge of such a UV completion.