Dynamics of spherical collapse in energy–momentum squared gravity

Abstract

This paper investigates the dynamics of spherical collapse in the framework of energy–momentum squared gravity. This theory overcomes the big-bang singularity and provides viable cosmological consequences in the early time universe. We proceed our work by considering the nonstatic spherically symmetric space–time in the interior and static spherically symmetric metric in the exterior regions of the star. The Darmois junction conditions between interior and exterior geometries are derived. We construct dynamical equations through the Misner–Sharp technique to analyze the impact of matter variables and dark source terms on the collapsing phenomenon. A correlation among dark source terms, Weyl scalar and matter variables is also established. Due to the presence of multivariate function and its derivatives, space–time is no longer considered to be conformally flat. To obtain conformally flat space–time, we have considered a particular model of this gravity which yields conformally flat space–time and homogeneity of the energy density through the entire system. We conclude that positive dark source terms as well as negative pressure gradient provide the anti-gravitational behavior leading to the stability of self-gravitating objects and hence prevent the collapsing process.