Gravitational Collapse in Energy-momentum squared gravity: Nature of singularities

Abstract: In this paper, we explore a collapsing scenario in the background of energy-momentum squared gravity (EMSG). EMSG claims to have terms that originate from the quantum gravity effects mimicking loop quantum gravity. As a result, the framework admits a bounce at a finite time thus avoiding a singularity. So the question that naturally arises: Is there any realistic chance of the formation of a black hole or the quantum gravity effects are strong enough to totally avoid such a pathology? Motivated by this we are interested in studying a gravitational collapse mechanism in the background of EMSG and investigate the fate of such a process. We model the spacetime of a massive star by the Vaidya metric and derive the field equations in EMSG. Then using the equations we go on to study a gravitational collapse mechanism, on two specific models of EMSG with different forms of curvature-matter coupling. The prime objective is to probe the nature of singularity (if formed) as the end state of the collapse. We see that none of the models generically admit the formation of black holes as the end state of collapse, but on the contrary, they support the formation of naked singularities. This can be attributed to the quantum fluctuations of the gravitational interactions at the fundamental level.