Kyoto University · Physics and Astronomy
Professor Francesco Di Filippo's research lab focuses on quantum gravity phenomenology, particularly exploring regular black hole models that replace singularities with nonsingular cores. The lab investigates the stability and geometric structure of these black holes under linear and nonlinear perturbations, with a strong emphasis on resolving the black hole information paradox and mass inflation at inner horizons. Using frameworks such as Lorentz-violating gravity, higher-curvature corrections, and modified gravity theories like cuscuton/VCDM, the group studies the viability of alternative gravity models and their observational signatures—especially in light of recent EHT observations of Sgr A$^*$. The work bridges theoretical gravity, black hole thermodynamics, and astrophysical constraints.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
A bstract Regular black holes with nonsingular cores have been considered in several approaches to quantum gravity, and as agnostic frameworks to address the singularity problem and Hawking’s information paradox. While in a recent work we argued that the inner core is destabilized by linear perturbations, opposite claims were raised that regular black holes have in fact stable cores. To reconcile these arguments, we discuss a generalization of the geometrical framework, originally applied to Rei
Regular black holes represent a conservative model in which the classical singularity is replaced by a non-singular core without necessarily modifying the spacetime outside the trapping horizon. Given the possible lack of phenomenological signatures, it is crucial to study the consistency of the model. In this short work, we review the physical mechanism leading to the instability of the central core, arguing that that non-perturbative backreation is non-negligible and must be taken into account
A bstract We present a systematic study of the geometric structure of non-singular spacetimes describing black holes in Lorentz-violating gravity. We start with a review of the definition of trapping horizons, and the associated notions of trapped and marginally trapped surfaces, and then study their significance in frameworks with modified dispersion relations. This leads us to introduce the notion of universally marginally trapped surfaces, as the direct generalization of marginally trapped su
The images of Sagittarius A$^*$ recently released by the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration have been accompanied [Ap.J.Lett.\,{\bf 930\,\#2}\,(2022)\,L17] by an analysis of the constraints on the possible absence of a trapping horizon, i.e.~on the possibility that the object at the center of our galaxy is an ultra-compact object with a surface re-emitting incident radiation. Indeed, using the observed image size and the broadband spectrum of Sgr A$^*$, it is claimed that the radius of any su
Abstract We study a theory of minimally modified gravity called cuscuton/VCDM that propagates only two gravitational degrees of freedom. Despite being apparently different from general relativity (GR), it is in principle possible that this theory might be obtained via a field redefinition starting from the GR action. This would make the vacuum theory equivalent to GR and the theory would differ from GR only in the presence of matter. In this paper, studying the dispersion relation of gravitation
Recently, it was shown that essentially all regular black hole models constructed so far can be obtained as solutions of vacuum gravity equations, upon considering an infinite series of quasitopological higher curvature corrections. Here, we show that such a construction can be upgraded to yield regular black holes with vanishing inner horizon surface gravity. In four dimensions, such a condition is necessary for the absence of classical instabilities associated with mass inflation on the inner
Abstract Infrared observations of Sgr A * and M87 * are incompatible with the assumption that these sources have physical surfaces in thermal equilibrium with their accreting environments. In this paper we discuss a general parametrization of the energy balance in a horizonless object, which permits to quantify how close a horizonless object is in its behavior to a black hole, and analyze the timescale in which its surface can thermalize. We show that the thermalization timescale is unbounded, g
Nonsingular horizonless ultracompact objects provide a simple resolution to the black holes singularity problem. It has been shown that, if these objects are compact enough to exhibit the presence of the light ring required to mimic the phenomenology of general relativity black holes, they must have at least one additional light ring. The stability of the inner light ring has been proven under the assumptions of Einstein equations and the validity of the null energy condition. Since this can hav
In a spherically symmetric and static spacetime of a compact object, such as that of a Schwarzschild black hole, the light-ring is a two-sphere where photons experience the only possible circular orbits. As a ``gedanken experiment,'' we imagine an advanced civilization able to populate the light-ring of a nonrotating black hole of mass $M$ with photons having a fine-tuned impact parameter that allows their orbits to be exactly circular with radius $r=3M$. As the number of photons in the light-ri
While the standard point of view is that the ultimate endpoint of black hole evolution is determined by Hawking evaporation, there is a growing evidence that classical and semi-classical instabilities affect both black holes with inner horizons as well as their ultra-compact counterparts. In this paper we start from this evidence pointing towards extremal black holes as stable endpoints of the gravitational collapse, and develop a general class of spherical and axisymmetric solutions with multip
Subtle gait and cognitive dysfunction are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), even before most evident clinical manifestations. Such alterations can be assumed as hypothetical phenotypical and prognostic/progression markers. To compare spatiotemporal gait parameters in PD patients with three cognitive status: cognitively intact (PD-noCI), with subjective cognitive impairment (PD-SCI) and with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) in order to detect subclinical gait differences. One hundred PD patie
Understanding the dynamics of soft hair might shine some light on the information loss paradox. In this paper, we introduce a new coordinate system, dressed coordinates, in order to analyze the quantum states of Hawking radiation as a first step toward understanding the connection between soft hair and the information paradox. Dressed coordinates can be introduced by an operator-dependent coordinate transformation that makes the soft hair degrees of freedom apparently disappear from the metric.
Recently it was shown that essentially all regular black hole models constructed so far can be obtained as solutions of vacuum gravity equations, upon considering an infinite series of quasi-topological higher curvature corrections. Here we show that such a construction can be upgraded to yield regular black holes with vanishing inner horizon surface gravity. In four dimensions, such a condition is necessary for the absence of classical instabilities associated with mass inflation on the inner h
Different antineoplastic drugs have been associated to hyperthermia in the treatment of advanced soft tissue limb sarcoma with a good results in terms of conservative surgery (77%-97%), locoregional control (77%-87%) and overall survival (72%). Two different studies were performed: the first was carried out to analyze the doxorubicin-TNFalpha-hyperthermia association (three different trials) in terms of toxicity and efficacy of the treatment (tumor response, locoregional control, disease free an
Open papers in the app to read, cite, and organize with AI.
