Schwarzschild Spacetime and the Local Limit of Nonlocal Gravity

Abstract: We investigate static spherically symmetric solutions within the framework of the local limit of nonlocal gravity. This theory departs from Einstein's general relativity (GR) through the introduction of a scalar gravitational susceptibility function $S(x)$, $1+S > 0$, which is a new feature of the spacetime that vanishes in the GR limit. It is shown that the Schwarzschild spacetime constitutes an exact solution of the modified source-free gravitational field equations provided $S$ is a constant. The mass of the corresponding Schwarzschild solution is given by $M/(1+S)$, where $M$ denotes the mass of the solution in the GR limit. The interpretation of the solution in terms of a black hole is ruled out due to the divergence of the algebraic invariants of the Weitzenb\"ock torsion at the Schwarzschild horizon.