Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity provides a natural higher dimensional and higher order curvature generalization of Einstein gravity. It contains a new, presumably microscopic, length scale that should affect short distance properties of the dynamics, such as Choptuik scaling. We present the results of a numerical analysis in generalized flat slice coordinates of self-gravitating massless scalar spherical collapse in five and six dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity near the threshold of black hole formation. Remarkably, the behavior is universal (i.e., independent of initial data) but qualitatively different in five and six dimensions. In five dimensions there is a minimum horizon radius, suggestive of a first order transition between black hole and dispersive initial data. In six dimensions no radius gap is evident. Instead, below the Gauss-Bonnet scale there is a change in the critical exponent and echoing period.

• Received 6 September 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.86.104011