Strong breaking of black-hole uniqueness from coexisting scalarization mechanisms
Phys. Rev. D 113, 124071 – Published 22 June, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/8n13-bh27
Abstract
Black-hole uniqueness, i.e., the statement that all stationary vacuum black holes in the universe are described by the Kerr solution, is expected to break in theories beyond general relativity. This breaking can take a particularly strong form, if several branches of black-hole solutions beyond the Kerr solution coexist. We find an example of a theory that exhibits such strong breaking. In this theory, a cubic coupling of a scalar field to the Gauss-Bonnet invariant triggers black-hole scalarization through a nonlinear instability of the Kerr solution. At large spin, curvature-induced and spin-induced scalarization mechanisms compete at fixed sign of the coupling. This results in a rich phase structure of black-hole solutions and continuous as well as discontinuous transitions between the different branches of black holes.
