| Abstract: | We investigate the formation of a locally nakedsingularity in the collapse of radiation shells in anexpanding Vaidya-de Sitter background. This is achievedby considering the behaviour of non-spacelikeand radial geodesics originating at thesingularity. A specific condition is determined for theexistence of radially outgoing, null geodesicsoriginating at the singularity which, when thiscondition is satisfied, becomes locally naked. Thiscondition turns out to be the same as that in thecollapse of radiation shells in an asymptotically flatbackground. Therefore we have established, at least forthe case considered here, that the asymptoticflatness of the spacetime is not essential for thedevelopment of a locally naked singularity. Our resultthen unequivocally supports the view that no specialrole be given to asymptotic observers (or, for thatmatter, any set of observers) in the formulation of theCosmic Censorship Hypothesis. |
