
We derive and study an approximate static vacuum solution generated by a point-like source in a higher derivative gravitational theory with a pair of complex conjugate ghosts. The gravitational theory is local and characterized by a high derivative operator compatible with Lee-Wick unitarity. In particular, the tree-level two-point function only shows a pair of complex conjugate poles besides the massless spin two graviton. We show that singularity-free black holes exist when the mass of the source $M$ exceeds a critical value $M_{\rm crit}$. For $M > M_{\rm crit}$ the spacetime structure is characterized by an outer event horizon and an inner Cauchy horizon, while for $M = M_{\rm crit}$ we have an extremal black hole with vanishing Hawking temperature. The evaporation process leads to a remnant that approaches the zero-temperature extremal black hole state in an infinite amount of time.
5 pages, 3 figures. v2: refereed version
Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Black holes, Physics, QC1-999, FOS: Physical sciences, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc), Relativistic gravitational theories other than Einstein's, including asymmetric field theories, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Black holes, Physics, QC1-999, FOS: Physical sciences, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc), Relativistic gravitational theories other than Einstein's, including asymmetric field theories, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
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