Physical nature of the central singularity in spherical collapse - art. no. 044018

We examine here the nature of the central singularity forming in the spheri cally symmetric collapse of a dust cloud and it is shown that this is alway s a strong curvature singularity where gravitational tidal forces diverge p owerfully. An important consequence is that the nature of the naked singula rity forming in the dust collapse turns out to be stable against the pertur bations in the initial data from which the collapse commences. [S0556-2821( 99)02002-0].