Joshi, Pankaj SMalafarina, DanieleNarayan, Ramesh2017-10-262011Joshi, Pankaj S, Daniele Malafarina, and Ramesh Narayan. 2011. “Equilibrium Configurations from Gravitational Collapse.” Classical and Quantum Gravity 28 (23) (November 17): 235018. doi:10.1088/0264-9381/28/23/235018.0264-9381http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:34299221We develop here a new procedure within Einstein's theory of gravity to generate equilibrium configurations that result as the final state of gravitational collapse from regular initial conditions. As a simplification, we assume that the collapsing fluid is supported only by tangential pressure. We show that the equilibrium geometries generated by this method form a subset of static solutions to the Einstein equations, and that they can either be regular or develop a naked singularity at the center. When a singularity is present, there are key differences in the properties of stable circular orbits relative to those around a Schwarzschild black hole with the same mass. Therefore, if an accretion disk is present around such a naked singularity it could be observationally distinguished from a disk around a black hole.en-USJournal Article2017-10-2610.1088/0264-9381/28/23/235018