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Emmanuele Battista

Publications and source records attributed to Emmanuele Battista.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effective Matter Conversion in Gravitational Collapse and the Dynamical Formation of Regular Black Holes

We study inverse source reconstruction in generalized Vaidya spacetimes. A prescribed density fixes the mass and tangential pressure, while a two-sector decomposition determines a dimensionless radial balance function. We distinguish this function from a time-directed conversion rate and identify the additional null-flux information required for a covariant exchange vector. Positivity restricts the allowed target pressures: a de Sitter core cannot be represented by nonnegative sectors with nonnegative tangential equations of state. An explicit finite-density profile admits a positive vacuum-like completion, finite curvature invariants, and inner and outer trapping horizons above a calculable threshold. Its total source satisfies the null, weak, and dominant energy conditions during monotonic accretion, while the timelike convergence condition fails in the core. We check polytropic, bag-model-inspired, and condensate-inspired profiles and the corresponding cosmological reconstruction. Finally, we compute the stationary endpoint's shadow and compare its exterior deformation with published Sagittarius A* measurements. The construction establishes local curvature regularity and marginal-sphere formation, without claiming a microscopic formation mechanism, perturbative stability, or geodesic completeness.

gr-qc

Energy conditions in static, spherically symmetric spacetimes and effective geometries

Classical energy conditions are investigated in generic static and spherically symmetric spacetimes. In setups with nonconstant $g_{tt} g_{rr}$, the appearance of horizons can signal the violation of the null energy condition and the breakdown of some standard near-horizon properties. For configurations satisfying $g_{tt}g_{rr}=-1$, we devise a systematic algorithm to generate solutions of the Einstein field equations that automatically obey the null energy condition. Within this family, we select a particularly significant metric that incorporates a logarithmic correction to the Schwarzschild model and fulfills all standard energy criteria. We examine its main features, including the horizon structure, geodesic behavior, and junction conditions. Our analysis shows that this geometry can be interpreted as an effective exterior description for both horizon-bearing and horizonless compact objects, and suggests that it can potentially act, in certain regimes, as a black hole mimicker.

gr-qc

Equivalence Principle violation in metric-affine gravity and finite-temperature effects

Possible violations of the equivalence principle are investigated within the framework of metric-affine gravity and their connection to finite-temperature effects are highlighted. Thermal corrections to particle dynamics, originally derived in a quantum-field-theory setting, can be evaluated in a purely Riemannian framework and lead to a shift in the gravitational-to-inertial mass ratio. We show that the ensuing departure from universality of free fall can be also formulated in metric-affine gravity, where the presence of the non-metricity tensor modifies the Newtonian law in a way that closely parallels the finite-temperature scenario. Furthermore, we introduce a generalized Fermi-Walker derivative adapted to non-Riemannian contexts, which naturally reveals that no orthonormal tetrad can be propagated along an observer worldline. Although metric-affine gravity admits a pointwise realization of the Einstein equivalence principle in its gauge-theoretic, elementary-matter form, the new operator offers a direct geometric signature that this principle, in its modern formulation, is not retained in general. Potential tests of the analyzed effects are also discussed.

gr-qc

Families of regular spacetimes and energy conditions

We present a systematic method for constructing static, spherically symmetric regular spacetimes in general relativity satisfying the weak energy condition. Our approach relies on physically reasonable assumptions on the matter energy density, together with the boundedness of the Kretschmann scalar. The latter property ensures the finiteness of all curvature invariants and, for the configurations considered, is equivalent to the completeness of causal geodesics. By classifying admissible density profiles according to their complexity, we recover well-known regular black hole solutions such as the Bardeen, Hayward, and Dymnikova models, which are thus naturally embedded in a unified and broader framework. Within this setting, we also derive closed-form expressions for several new families of regular geometries involving hypergeometric or incomplete Gamma functions, which in many cases reduce to elementary functions including algebraic, logarithmic, arctangent, and exponential forms. The emergence of horizons and photon spheres, as well as matching conditions to a Schwarzschild exterior, are also investigated.

gr-qc

Shadow signatures and energy accumulation in Lorentzian-Euclidean black holes

The Lorentzian-Euclidean black hole has been recently introduced as a geodesically complete spacetime featuring a signature shift at the event horizon where causal geodesics are precluded from reaching the central $r=0$ singularity. In this paper, we investigate the shadows produced by this geometry to identify deviations from the standard Schwarzschild solution. Our analysis reveals an excess intensity in the inner shadow region that points to a potential observational signature of the novel behavior of light rays propagating near the event horizon. This excess could be a probe for horizon-scale modifications of black hole geometries. Furthermore, although the horizon surface of the Lorentzian-Euclidean black hole continuously accumulates photons and energy, we show that its backreaction response differs from that of stable light rings found in various exotic compact objects.

gr-qc

Minisuperspace Cosmology in Extended Geometric Trinity of Gravity

We investigate Extended Geometric Trinity of Gravity at both classical and quantum cosmological levels using the minisuperspace approach. Adopting Noether symmetries to select viable models, we examine metric-affine theories of gravity, in particular the extensions of General Relativity, Teleparallel Equivalent General Relativity and Symmetric Teleparallel Equivalent General Relativity, and show that the equivalence among these different formulations can be restored by including in the Lagrangian the divergence terms that relate their respective geometric invariants to the Ricci scalar. Exact cosmological solutions are derived and compared in the different models.

gr-qc

NovaMoon: A Strategic Lunar Reference Station for Positioning, Timing, and Largely Enhanced Science in the Earth-Moon System

The renewed interest in lunar exploration and the development of future lunar communication and navigation services highlight the need for a precise, stable, and interoperable geodetic and timing infrastructure on the Moon. NovaMoon, proposed as a scientific and navigation payload for ESA's Argonaut lander, is designed as a lunar-based local differential, geodetic, and timing station supporting both operational needs in the Moon's south polar region and a broad range of scientific investigations. The payload integrates a lunar laser retroreflector, a Very Long Baseline Interferometry transmitter, a receiver for navigation signals compatible with LunaNet standards, high-stability atomic clocks, and direct-to-Earth radio links -- making it the first lunar station to co-locate multiple ranging, tracking, and timing techniques. NovaMoon will enable sub-metre to decimetre positioning, provide local differential corrections for lunar users, and ensure an accurate and stable realisation of position and time. Preliminary simulation studies show that this multi-technique dataset improves the lunar reference frame, orientation and ephemerides, and estimates of interior parameters like tidal response and core properties. NovaMoon will also provide the first long-duration physical realisation of a lunar time reference. Beyond its primary goals, it supports improved cartography, precise surface geolocation, and higher-resolution topography, contributing to safer landings and operations. It also enables new tests of fundamental physics, including constraints on relativity and possible deviations from classical gravity.

astro-ph.EP

Null geodesics, causal structure, and matter accretion in Lorentzian-Euclidean black holes

Recently, we introduced the Lorentzian-Euclidean black hole, a static and spherically symmetric solution of vacuum Einstein equations that exhibits a change in metric signature across the event horizon. In this framework, the analysis of radial trajectories of freely falling bodies proves that the central singularity can be avoided via a mechanism we interpret as atemporality, which is responsible for the shift of the time variable from real to imaginary values. In this paper, we further explore this model by first examining the behavior of null geodesics. Our investigation requires a set of signature-adaptive coordinate changes that generalize the local Lorentz transformations underlying General Relativity. We find that photon orbits, like their massive counterparts, cannot traverse the event horizon, thereby strengthening the previous result on the impossibility to reach the $r=0$ singularity. Additionally, we discuss the causal structure of the spacetime, provide the corresponding Penrose diagram, and analyze the process of matter accretion in the outer region of the black hole.

gr-qc

Signatures of modified gravity from the gravitational Aharonov-Bohm effect

To date, no observational confirmation of dark matter particles has been found. In this paper, we put forward an alternative approach to inferring evidence for dark matter through modified gravity, without invoking fundamental dark matter particles. Specifically, we explore the possibility of extracting signatures of Kaluza-Klein gravity through the gravitational Aharonov-Bohm effect. Kaluza-Klein theory has recently been proposed as an alternative to the dark sector, and predicts a tower of particles, including spin-0 and spin-1 gravitons alongside the usual spin-2 gravitons, which can gravitationally couple to matter. We thus analyze a quantum system in free fall around a gravitating body in the presence of a modified Yukawa-like gravitational potential, and determine the gravitational phase induced by the additional degrees of freedom introduced by the Kaluza-Klein model. Our results reveal that, in addition to the usual result from General Relativity, the quantum wave function of the system exhibits an additional effect: a splitting of the energy levels with a new quantum number due to the extra vector gravitational degrees of freedom. The energy splitting difference between general relativity and Kaluza-Klein gravity is found to be of the order of meV for an atomic system and eV for a nuclear system. Similar values also arise in generic modified gravity models and can be feasibly tested in the future. Numerical estimates for the graviton mass are also provided, and potential imprints on gravitational waves are mentioned.

gr-qc

Atemporality from Conservation Laws of Physics in Lorentzian-Euclidean Black Hole

Recent results have shown that singularities can be avoided from the general relativistic standpoint in Lorentzian-Euclidean black holes by means of the transition from a Lorentzian to an Euclidean region where time loses its physical meaning and becomes imaginary. This dynamical mechanism, dubbed ``atemporality'', prevents the emergence of black hole singularities and the violation of conservation laws. In this paper, the notion of atemporality together with a detailed discussion of its implications is presented from a philosophical perspective. The main result consists in showing that atemporality is naturally related to conservation laws.

gr-qc

One-loop effective action of the IKKT model for cosmological backgrounds

We study cosmological solutions of the IKKT model with $k=-1$ FLWR geometry, taking into account one-loop corrections. A previously discussed covariant quantum spacetime is found to be stabilized through one-loop effects at early times, without adding a mass term to the model. At late times, this background is modified and approaches a solution of the classical model where $a(t) \sim const$, but the dilaton decreases in time. This suggests that a more complete treatment of the system is required in the late-time regime.

hep-th

Complex degenerate metrics in general relativity: a covariant extension of the Moore-Penrose algorithm

The Moore-Penrose algorithm provides a generalized notion of an inverse, applicable to degenerate matrices. In this paper, we introduce a covariant extension of the Moore-Penrose method that permits to deal with general relativity involving complex non-invertible metrics. Unlike the standard technique, this approach guarantees the uniqueness of the pseudoinverse metric through the fulfillment of a set of covariant relations, and it allows for the proper definition of a covariant derivative operator and curvature-related tensors. Remarkably, the degenerate nature of the metric can be given a geometrical representation in terms of a torsion tensor, which vanishes only in special cases. Applications of the new scheme to complex black hole geometries and cosmological models are also investigated, and a generalized concept of geodesics that exploits the notion of autoparallel and extremal curves is presented. Relevance of our findings to quantum gravity and quantum cosmology is finally discussed.

gr-qc

Dynamical features and shadows of quantum Schwarzschild black hole in effective field theories of gravity

We investigate the properties of the Schwarzschild black hole geometry involving leading one-loop long-distance quantum effects, which arise within the framework of effective field theories of gravity. Our analysis reveals that geodesic trajectories of both massive and massless particles can assume completely different behaviors depending on the sign assumed by the quantum contributions, in spite of their smallness. Moreover, we find that the positions of stable and unstable circular orbits are determined by an algebraic quartic equation, which we solve by developing a straightforward and analytic method. Additionally, we examine black hole shadows and rings by means of two different emission profile models, which account for quantum corrections to the innermost stable circular orbit and photon sphere radii. The Hawking temperature and the entropy of the black hole are also derived. Finally, we draw our conclusions.

gr-qc

Generalized uncertainty principle corrections in Rastall-Rainbow Casimir wormholes

We explore wormhole solutions sourced by Casimir energy density involving generalized uncertainty principle corrections within the framework of Rastall-Rainbow gravity. The questions of traversability and stability, as well as the presence of exotic matter, are carefully investigated. In particular, the stability issue is addressed via an approach that has not been previously employed in the context of wormholes. This method, which represents an improved version of the so-called Herrera cracking technique, has the potential to yield novel insights in the field of wormhole geometries.

gr-qc

Avoiding singularities in Lorentzian-Euclidean black holes: the role of atemporality

We investigate a Schwarzschild metric exhibiting a signature change across the event horizon, which gives rise to what we term a Lorentzian-Euclidean black hole. The resulting geometry is regularized by employing the Hadamard partie finie technique, which allows us to prove that the metric represents a solution of vacuum Einstein equations. In this framework, we introduce the concept of atemporality as the dynamical mechanism responsible for the transition from a regime with a real-valued time variable to a new one featuring an imaginary time. We show that this mechanism prevents the occurrence of the singularity and, by means of the regularized Kretschmann invariant, we discuss in which terms atemporality can be considered as the characteristic feature of this black hole.

gr-qc

Radiative losses and radiation-reaction effects at the first post-Newtonian order in Einstein-Cartan theory

Gravitational radiation-reaction phenomena occurring in the dynamics of inspiralling compact binary systems are investigated at the first post-Newtonian order beyond the quadrupole approximation in the context of Einstein-Cartan theory, where quantum spin effects are modeled via the Weyssenhoff fluid. We exploit balance equations for the energy and angular momentum to determine the binary orbital decay until the two bodies collide. Our framework deals with both quasi-elliptic and quasi-circular trajectories, which are then smoothly connected. Key observables like the laws of variation of the orbital phase and frequency characterizing the quasi-circular motion are derived analytically. We conclude our analysis with an estimation of the spin contributions at the merger, which are examined both in the time domain and the Fourier frequency space through the stationary wave approximation.

gr-qc

Quantum Schwarzschild geometry in effective-field-theory models of gravity

The Schwarzschild geometry is investigated within the context of effective-field-theory models of gravity. Starting from its harmonic-coordinate expression, we derive the metric in standard coordinates by keeping the leading one-loop quantum contributions in their most general form. We examine the metric horizons and the nature of the hypersurfaces having constant radius; furthermore, a possible energy-extraction process which violates the null energy condition is described, and both timelike and null geodesics are studied. Our analysis shows that there is no choice of the sign of the constant parameter embodying the quantum correction to the metric which leaves all the features of the classical Schwarzschild solution almost unaffected.

gr-qc

Analytical results for binary dynamics at the first post-Newtonian order in Einstein-Cartan theory with the Weyssenhoff fluid

The quantum spin effects inside matter can be modeled via the Weyssenhoff fluid, which permits to unearth a formal analogy between general relativity and Einstein-Cartan theory at the first post-Newtonian order. In this framework, we provide some analytical formulas pertaining to the dynamics of binary systems having the spins aligned perpendicular to the orbital plane. We derive the expressions of the relative orbit and the coordinate time, which in turn allow to determine the gravitational waveform, and the energy and angular momentum fluxes. The potentialities of our results are presented in two astrophysical applications, where we compute: ($i$) the quantum spin contributions to the energy flux and gravitational waveform during the inspiral phase; ($ii$) the macroscopic angular momentum of one of the bodies starting from the time-averaged energy flux and the knowledge of few timing parameters.

gr-qc