Maximum force and naked singularities in higher dimensions

Abstract

We discuss the existence of maximum forces in ([Formula: see text])-dimensional spacetimes and show that the existence of a mass-independent maximum force does not occur in general relativity in spaces of more than three dimensions. Instead, the maximum force increases with the masses of merging objects as [Formula: see text] and allows unbounded gravitational forces to occur. This suggests that naked singularities can arise in more than three dimensions because they are unprotected by a maximum force at the horizon surface. This creates a new perspective on the expectation of naked singularities in higher dimensions.