Discussion
Started 27 September 2024

【NO.49】Must dark energy exist? Is it discrete? Does it have symmetry with energy?

Should there be a cosmological constant Λ term in the GR field equations? Is the Λ term symmetric with Gμν?
"According to Einstein's theory of General Relativity, gravity should lead to a slowing of the cosmic expansion. Yet, in 1998, two teams of astronomers studying distant supernovae made the remarkable discovery that the expansion of the universe is speeding up. To explain cosmic acceleration, cosmologists are faced with two possibilities: either 70% of the universe exists in an exotic form, now called dark energy, that exhibits a gravitational force opposite to the attractive gravity of ordinary matter, or General Relativity must be replaced by a new theory of gravity on cosmic scales."[1] In order to match the phenomenon of cosmic expansion, the general theory of relativity introduced the cosmological constant term and various speculations on its cause have been made [2]. However, these studies have rarely addressed the possible solutions in the structural aspects of the universe [3].
If there is only gravitational force, it looks like there is a deficiency. We believe that if there is a gravitational force, there is a corresponding repulsive force. But who should cause it and under what circumstances? It is important to know that in electromagnetic interactions, both positive and negative forces are formed by charges, and our goal is to unify the electromagnetic and gravitational forces. Would dark energy be a repulsive force symmetrical to gravity? Where does their symmetry come into play? If the result is to be symmetrical, the cause must first have symmetry. According to the assumptions of modern physics, the dark energy that causes the expansion of the universe is background and not symmetrical with the energy in GR. Regular energies are floating above the dark energy background, so they cannot have symmetry. In Einstein's gravitational field equation, Gµν + Λgµν = G*Tµν, the energy Tµν leads to an unmeasurable intrinsic Space-Time Curvature Gµν [4] while Λgµν is assumed to be a measurable extrinsic Space-Time Expansion due to the universal energy [5]. Specific and background, intrinsic and extrinsic, curvature and expansion do not have any symmetrical meaning. It would then not be appropriate to arrange them in a GR field equation.
Philosophically speaking, there should be no difference with ‘existence’ at this time and the other time, this place and the other place, i.e., when space and time are considered as background *, ‘existence’ does not depend on space-time coordinates. Therefore, the equations of the universe should not require boundary and initial conditions. Physics, by analysing observational data, has proposed the ‘Big Bang Theory’ and the ‘Accelerated Expansion Theory’ of the Universe, both of which are inconsistent with this. Therefore, the hypothesis of dark energy based on this foundation is questionable.
Our Questions:
Does the existence of ‘energy’ necessitate the existence of ‘dark energy’ or ‘anti-energy’? The hypothesis of the existence of dark energy is based only on the observation of the expansion of the universe. Is it the only explanation for the expansion of the universe? [6]
The function of energy is to drive interactions, and energy is presented in discrete forms, which can be manifested in a variety of forms, including gravity. Is the function of dark energy only to cause negative gravity? Is there only one form of dark energy?
Conservation of energy is an important physical principle, is dark energy conserved?
If gravity and negative gravity cancel each other out, why can't energy and dark energy cancel each other out directly?
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Notes
* We believe that existence itself has a space-time parameter, but not a coordinate parameter.
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References
[1] Dark Energy Survey, Collaboration. https://www.darkenergysurvey.org/the-des-project/overview/
[2] Peebles, P. J. E., & Ratra, B. (2003). The cosmological constant and dark energy. Reviews of Modern Physics, 75(2), 559.
[3] Fan, C. (2023). Convergent and Disperse Cyclic Multiverse Model (CDCMM). https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202309.0784/v2
[4] Doubts about General Relativity (7) - Is Space-Time Bend a Motion? https://www.researchgate.net/post/NO42Doubts_about_General_Relativity_7-Is_Space-Time_Bend_a_Motion;
Doubts about General Relativity (5) - Should there be "negative gravity" in General Relativity?,https://www.researchgate.net/post/NO40Doubts_about_General_Relativity_5-Should_there_be_negative_gravity_in_General_Relativity.
[5] Doubts about General Relativity (3) - Are Space-Time Curvature and Expansion Two Different Geometrical Mechanical Properties? https://www.researchgate.net/post/NO38Doubts_about_General_Relativity_3-Are_Space-Time_Curvature_and_Expansion_Two_Different_Geometrical_Mechanical_Properties.
[6] Is there a reasonable alternative to the theory of the expanding universe?

Most recent answer

Sergey Shevchenko
Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
The scientifically rational answers to the questions in
“【NO.49】Must dark energy exist? Is it discrete? Does it have symmetry with energy?”
- are given in a couple of SS posts in https://www.researchgate.net/post/NO50Should_the_Entire_Universe_Have_any_Symmetry_Can_a_Finite_Universe_Avoid_a_Centre/1, so more see the posts and links in the posts, first of all to the Shevchenko-Tokarevsky’s really philosophical 2007 “The Information as Absolute” conception and to the Planck scale informational physical model; here only briefly:
- to the above: some “dark energy” practically for sure exist, and was spent at least in two points
– at creation of the primary version of the Matter’s ultimate base – the (at least) [4+4+1]4D dense lattice of primary elementary logical structures – (at least) [4+4+1]4D binary reversible fundamental logical elements [FLE], which is placed in the Matter’s fundamentally absolute, fundamentally flat, fundamentally continuous, and fundamentally “Cartesian”, (at least) [4+4+1]4D spacetime with metrics (at least) (cτ,X,Y,Z, g,w,e,s,ct), FLE “size” and “FLE binary flip time” are Planck length, lP, and Planck time, tP, c= lP/tP; and
- at seems real expansion of [fundamentally not of Matter’s space] of the FLE lattice later.
At that the problem “what was/is this energy?” is fundamentally outside physics, at least till the really completely transcendent/mystic for humans phenomenon/notion “Energy” will be really scientifically defined; though from what is known now it looks as that “Energy” is continuous, though it can be spending in concrete cases discretely.
Besides the wording “have symmetry with energy?” looks as too concretely vague, more clear would be, say, as “is the energy that acts on FLEs the same as the energy that acts at observable experimentally interactions in matter?”, but, again, though the “ordinary” energy eventually fundamentally acts on FLEs, nonetheless it looks as practically for sure at interactions in matter fundamentally no new FLEs are created – in contrast to that the “dark energy” makes.
And to
“…We believe that existence itself has a space-time parameter, but not a coordinate parameter..….”
- while all/every material objects have as main primary parameters their coordinates [relating to rather probably existent center, see SS posts in the first link], which very essentially determine, say, strengths of interactions in matter.
Cheers

All replies (18)

Stam Nicolis
University of Tours
Th answer to the first question is, No. The answer to the second question is, also, No. The answer to the third question is that the statement doesn't make sense.
The answer to the penultimate question is Yes. The answer to the last question is that it doesn't make sense.
The cosmological constant is as inevitable a feature of general relativity as Newton's constant is. It's a dimensionsful quantity, whose presence i dictated by the symmetry of gravity, general coordinate invariance. What's not fixed by symmetry is its value and its sign: Einstein's equations admit solutions whatever the sign and whatever the value of the cosmological constant. For a long time it was assumed that the cosmological constant was equal to 0 and there was a lot of effort put into imagining the mechanism that would select the value 0. No mechanism was found and, in the 1980s it was realized from the measurement of what quantities it could be possible to deduce its value (and its sign) and the results became known in 1998: Its value is positive. And it was realized that what's called ``dark energy'' can be accounted for by the cosmological constant.
1 Recommendation
Chian Fan
East China University of Science and Technology
Thank you very much for your professional comments, which I always see as a yardstick to judge the deviation of my question and whether that deviation is reasonable or not.
My question or can be specifically described as if there must be dark energy, then can we write the Einstein field equation as two independent from each other, with
Gµν=G*Tµν, (eq.1)
gµν=G'*T(dark) (eq.2)
(eq.1) contains only the energy Tµν, (eq.2) contains only the dark energy T(dark), or some other element,and G' is a G like factor. Do these two equations still have mathematically adequate and reasonable solutions? And their solutions will not conflict? Are such equations still consistent with astronomical observations?
Best Regatds. Chian Fan
1 Recommendation
Stam Nicolis
University of Tours
No, it's not possible to separate the energy-momentum tensor in this way. There's one set of Einstein's equations.
Chian Fan
East China University of Science and Technology
Thank you very much for your reply.
I think the most important thing here is ‘inevitable’, although I haven't realised the conditions and sufficient reasons for ‘No’ yet. I continue to try to learn and understand them. Hopefully everything will eventually make Its own sense.
Best Regards, Chian Fan
Stam Nicolis
University of Tours
The reason for the fact that the presence of the cosmological constant is inevitable is that the corresponding term in the Einstein-Hilbert action, Λg^(1/2), where g is the determinant of the metric is invariant under diffeomorphisms and contributes the term Λg_(μν) to the Einstein equations, that doesn't contain any derivatives of the metric, therefore must be included, since the classical action of any physical system contains all terms, functions of the dynamical variables, in the case at hand, these are the components of the metric, that are invariant under the symmetries assumed-in this case the diffeomorphisms of spacetime-and that lead to the appearance of terms in the equations of motion that contain up to two time derivatives of the dynamical variables, in order for the space of solutions to be well-defined.
1 Recommendation
Stam Nicolis
University of Tours
This does not imply that the value of the cosmological constant must be non-zero, however! It just implies that there's no reason, due to symmetry, that it must be zero-and, indeed, it was measured and found to be positive.
1 Recommendation
Chian Fan
East China University of Science and Technology
You provide, and reinforce, the perception that there is growing evidence that the laws of nature are ‘unique’ and ‘unavoidable’. This may be the essential relationship between physics and maths, and their defining characteristic. It could guides our thinking and determines our conclusions. We look forward to learning and discovering more such revelations.
Best Regards, Chian Fan
Wolfgang Konle
Airbus Defence and Space, Friedrichshafen, Germany
Yes, dark energy must exist. No, it is not discrete. It can be consumed and created. Yes, it has a symmetry with the energy density of gravitational fields.
If a particle with a mass gets accelerated by a collision, a kink of the static gravitational field lines moves outwards with the speed of light. Before the kink has passed, the field lines correspond to the particle's state before the collision happened. After the kink has passed, the field lines correspond to the new state of the particle in the new inertial rest frame.
The outmoving field, which warps the lines of the static gravitational field to such a kink, has a positive energy density and therefor is a contribution to dark energy.
It is beyond question that any accelerated mass (not only rest-mass but also relativistic mass, including photon mass) emits such a radiation with the purpose to adapt its static gravitational field to the new inertial reference system. This field repair is obligatory, because no mass exists which has "forgotten" its static gravitational field in its old inertial reference system.
In the electrostatic analogy this field repair is called "Larmor radiation".
It is also obligatory that the energy content of such a pulse of gravitational radiation contains a positive amount of energy. Otherwise, the emission of such a pulse would further accelerate the source, instead of consuming a small part of the energy, which was externally provided for the acceleration.
Because of these two obligatory facts, the dark energy as a counter player of the negative energy density of gravitational fields must exist.
It is also obligatory that the energy density of the dark energy must even be high enough to compensate for the negative energy density of the extremely strong gravitational fields around neutron stars.
The unbelievable fact is that the existence of such a strong dark energy field turns current cosmology inside out, but nobody cares.
Felix Lev
Artwork Conversion Software Inc.
I already noted in the previous discussion that dark energy in nonsense, it is not needed because the data on cosmological acceleration can be explained without uncertainty in the framework of semiclassical approximation to quantum de Sitter symmetry - see e.g., Axioms vol. 13, paper No. 138 (2024) https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms13030138. Historically, the problem of dark energy has arisen because Einstein said that introducing Λ was the biggest blunder of his life, and for many physicists Einstein's words are almost a law.
1 Recommendation
Wolfgang Konle
Airbus Defence and Space, Friedrichshafen, Germany
Felix Lev "Solving Particle–Antiparticle and Cosmological Constant Problems"
"So, the statement that at early stages of the universe the numbers of baryons and antibaryons were the same, also does not have a physical meaning, and, as a consequence, the "Barion Assymetry of the Universe" problem does not arise."
Don't you think denying natural laws is a too simple solution for the BAU problem?
Felix Lev
Artwork Conversion Software Inc.
I am denying not natural laws but only some proclamations. If you think that I am wrong then please indicate explicitly why my conclusions are erroneous.
Wolfgang Konle
Airbus Defence and Space, Friedrichshafen, Germany
Felix Lev "If you think that I am wrong then please indicate explicitly why my conclusions are erroneous."
I only had a deeper look at your consideration of the BAU problem, and there I don't claim that your conclusions are wrong, because I have not seen any conclusion at all.
Over many many pages you are rising the expectation for a mathematically justified conclusion about the BAU problem. But finally you only end up with the trivial claim, that in the early universe the natural laws, as we are currently knowing them, are not exactly fulfilled.
Dmitriy Tipikin
Photonis USA
Dark energy may be the erroneous interpretation of the experiment. The observed dimming of the supernovas at z~1 may be explained by the completely new phenomenon - scattering of light. Recent observations of supernovas at Z~3 by James Webb Space Telescope delivered an unusual observation - they all too big (much larger than the diffraction limit of telescope). Thus the observed dimming of supernovas (discovery of "dark energy" has the second explanation - the scattered light causes the supernovas image be larger than the diffraction limit and thus dimmer).
See my publications here:
Tipikin: Tired light hypothesis and "accelerated expansion of Universe" - no need for dark energy.
2406.0162v1.pdf (vixra.org)
Wolfgang Konle
Airbus Defence and Space, Friedrichshafen, Germany
Dmitriy Tipikin "In addition to the blurred images of far galaxies the observation of the supernovas (well researched object with many standard features present) confirms once again the tired light hypothesis (great accuracy of the fit of the experimentally observed angle size is achieved) and disproves Big Bang Theory."
I fully admit to that interpretation of observations and I think that I can contribute to the explanation:
The universe is filled with a dark energy medium, which compensates for the negative energy density contained in gravitational fields. This medium warps the space and causes a homogenous Ricci curvature 1/R². The total volume of the universe therefor is 2π²R³. Geodesics are circles with radius R.
Light propagation around a circle causes a geometrical red shift, compared to a propagation across a straight line. The factor achieved by crossing the universe is πR instead of 2R.
However this geometrical red shift is not sufficient to explain the observed red shift. But we know that every photon has a mass equivalent of its energy content and therefor also carries a gravitational field. This gravitational field causes a tiny density dent in the dark energy medium. The moving dent implies depositing some kinetic energy in that medium. This energy is taken from the photon and therefor causes the red shift.
Sergey Shevchenko
Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
The scientifically rational answers to the questions in
“【NO.49】Must dark energy exist? Is it discrete? Does it have symmetry with energy?”
- are given in a couple of SS posts in https://www.researchgate.net/post/NO50Should_the_Entire_Universe_Have_any_Symmetry_Can_a_Finite_Universe_Avoid_a_Centre/1, so more see the posts and links in the posts, first of all to the Shevchenko-Tokarevsky’s really philosophical 2007 “The Information as Absolute” conception and to the Planck scale informational physical model; here only briefly:
- to the above: some “dark energy” practically for sure exist, and was spent at least in two points
– at creation of the primary version of the Matter’s ultimate base – the (at least) [4+4+1]4D dense lattice of primary elementary logical structures – (at least) [4+4+1]4D binary reversible fundamental logical elements [FLE], which is placed in the Matter’s fundamentally absolute, fundamentally flat, fundamentally continuous, and fundamentally “Cartesian”, (at least) [4+4+1]4D spacetime with metrics (at least) (cτ,X,Y,Z, g,w,e,s,ct), FLE “size” and “FLE binary flip time” are Planck length, lP, and Planck time, tP, c= lP/tP; and
- at seems real expansion of [fundamentally not of Matter’s space] of the FLE lattice later.
At that the problem “what was/is this energy?” is fundamentally outside physics, at least till the really completely transcendent/mystic for humans phenomenon/notion “Energy” will be really scientifically defined; though from what is known now it looks as that “Energy” is continuous, though it can be spending in concrete cases discretely.
Besides the wording “have symmetry with energy?” looks as too concretely vague, more clear would be, say, as “is the energy that acts on FLEs the same as the energy that acts at observable experimentally interactions in matter?”, but, again, though the “ordinary” energy eventually fundamentally acts on FLEs, nonetheless it looks as practically for sure at interactions in matter fundamentally no new FLEs are created – in contrast to that the “dark energy” makes.
And to
“…We believe that existence itself has a space-time parameter, but not a coordinate parameter..….”
- while all/every material objects have as main primary parameters their coordinates [relating to rather probably existent center, see SS posts in the first link], which very essentially determine, say, strengths of interactions in matter.
Cheers

Similar questions and discussions

【NO.43】Doubts about General Relativity (8) - How is Energy-Momentum of Gravitational Field Expressed? How is It Transferred? How is It Exchanged?
Discussion
32 replies
  • Chian FanChian Fan
Free spacetime contains no energy-momentum*, so when objects m are travelling at constant velocity in it, they do not exchange energy-momentum. Non-free spacetime contains energy-momentum. The Einstein field equation of general relativity,
Rµν - (1/2)gµνR = G*Tµν,
expresses the relationship between the energy-momentum (mass) and the structure of spacetime ( metric) at a point (region) in spacetime**. Usually we think that "Gravity couples universally to all forms of energy" [1]. Then, we need to ask three basic questions:
1) What is the best way to express the energy-momentum of the gravitational field? or how are the "long-standing problems about energy-momentum localisation in GR" [2][3][4] addressed? The energy-momentum of the gravitational field is the energy-momentum of the spacetime field, which must be localizable. The energy-momentum of the spacetime field must involve only the spacetime parameter xi(i=0,1,2,3), because the independent spacetime field has no other parameter (or it has some other hidden parameter that does not play an explicit role). But it cannot be expressed directly in terms of spatio-temporal coordinates (t,x,y,z) because they must be background independent, nor can it be expressed in terms of time lengths T and space lengths L because we have no way of determining the measurement boundaries. So what are the remaining covariates? The rates of measure change, curvature, and deflection, etc.. which are the most appropriate? Even if we consider space-time as a "medium", what are the properties of the medium? Density, elasticity? What density? What elasticity?
2) By what means are gravitational fields and other forms of energy-momentum exchanged with each other? Obviously it must be through a common covariate, and then the only option available is the spacetime covariate. Does this qualify that all other forms of energy-momentum must contain spacetime covariates? Includes energy-momentum of dark matter (no dark energy involved). And more critically, the form of these spacetime Attributes and the form in which the spacetime energy-momentum is expressed should be the same, i.e., if the energy-momentum of spacetime is expressed in terms of a change of metric, the other forms of energy-momentum must be related to a change in the spacetime metric; and if it is expressed in terms of a curvature, the other forms must be related to a change in the curvature.
3) Is the energy-momentum of the gravitational field conserved[5]? If the energy-momentum of the gravitational field is not conserved, what will become of the gravitation dominated evolution of galaxies?
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Notes
** The concept of a strict "point" interaction does not really exist in physics.
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References
[1] Kiefer, C. (2006). Quantum gravity: general introduction and recent developments. Annalen der Physik, 518(1-2), 129-148.
[2] Einstein Ann. d. Phys. 49, 769 (1916).
[3] Hestenes, D. (2021). Energy-Momentum Complex in General Relativity and Gauge Theory. Advances in Applied Clifford Algebras, 31(3), 51.
[4] Møller, C. (1958). On the localization of the energy of a physical system in the general theory of relativity. Annals of Physics, 4(4), 347-371.
[5] Szabados, L. B. (2009). Quasi-local energy-momentum and angular momentum in general relativity. Living Reviews in Relativity, 12(1), 1-163.
【NO.39】Doubts about General Relativity (4) - Who should determine the spacetime metrics of matter itself?
Discussion
29 replies
  • Chian FanChian Fan
General Relativity field equations [1]:
Gµν = G*Tµν...... (EQ.1).
It is a relation between the matter field (energy-momentum field) Tµν and the spacetime field Gµν, where the gravitational constant G is the conversion factor between the dimensions [2].Einstein constructed this relation without explaining why the spacetime field and the matter field are in such a way, but rather assumed that nine times out of ten, they would be in such a way. He also did not explain why the spacetime field Gµν is described by curvature and not by some other parameter. Obviously, we must find the exact physical relationship between them, i.e., why Tµν must correspond to Gµν, in order to ensure that the field equations are ultimately correct.
We know that matter cannot be a point particle, it must have a scale, and matter cannot be a solid particle, it must be some kind of field. The fact that matter has a scale means that it has to occupy space-time; the fact that matter is a field means that it is mixed with space-time, i.e., matter contains space-time. So, when applying Einstein's field equations, how is matter's own spacetime defined? Does it change its own spacetime? If its own energy-momentum and structure have already determined its own spacetime, should the way it determines its own spacetime be the same as the way it determines the external spacetime? If it is the same, does it mean that the spacetime field is actually a concomitant of the matter field?
If one were to consider a gravitational wave, one could think of it as a fluctuating spacetime field that propagates independently of the material source after it has been disconnected from it. They have decoupled from each other and no longer continue to conform to the field equations (EQ.1). Although gravitational waves are the product of a source, the loss of that source prevents us from finding another specific source for it to match it through the equation (EQ.1). Just as after an electron accelerates, the relationship between the radiated electromagnetic wave and the electron is no longer maintained. Does this indicate the independence of spacetime field energies?
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Related questions
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References
[1] Grøn, Ø., & Hervik, S. (2007). Einstein's Field Equations. In Einstein's General Theory of Relativity: With Modern Applications in Cosmology (pp. 179-194). Springer New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-69200-5_8
【NO.40】Doubts about General Relativity (5) - Should there be "negative gravity" in General Relativity?
Discussion
18 replies
  • Chian FanChian Fan
If gravity is caused by spacetime, then negative gravity should also be caused by spacetime. If general relativity is correct, then it should be able to describe all spacetime types and describe both positive and negative gravity.
In electromagnetic interactions there are two opposite forces, attractive and repulsive. The direction of the electric force depends on the identity of the "electric charge"; the direction of the magnetic force depends on the polarity of the "magnetic charge"*. However, in gravitational phenomena we only find attractive forces at the macroscopic level. This seems to be a flaw, somewhat similar to our inability to see antimatter (the gravitational force produced by antimatter is still positive). The concepts of "negative mass" and "negative energy" have been proposed and assumed to give rise to negative gravity [1][2][3]. This seems a somewhat absurd idea.
According to the interpretation of general relativity, gravity is a manifestation of the "curvature" of spacetime. So, if positive curvature of space-time produces "positive gravity", does negative curvature of space-time produce "negative gravity"? Under what conditions and in what places should such a situation leading to negative gravity occur?
Schwarzschild spacetime is a spherically symmetric solution of GR, can spherical symmetry be extended across the "event horizon" to r=0?
The best way to describe it is that we take the "event horizon" (r=2GM) as the dividing line, whose inner and outer spacetimes are symmetric. The external is gravitational force (pointing to the centre of the sphere), which tends to zero at r→∞,and is the macroscopic case; the internal is negative gravitational force (leaving the centre of the sphere), which tends to zero at r→0, and is the microscopic case(This looks like a very good match for elementary particles). However, physics suggests that the interior of a black hole is much more complex [4].
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Notes
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References
[1] Bondi, H. (1957). Negative mass in general relativity. Reviews of Modern Physics, 29(3), 423.
[2] Tiwari, R. N., Rao, J. R., & Ray, S. (1991). Gravitational sources of purely electromagnetic origin. Astrophysics and Space Science, 178(1), 119-132. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00647119
[3] Parikh, M. K., & Wilczek, F. (2000). Hawking radiation as tunneling. Physical Review Letters, 85(24), 5042.
[4] Carroll, S. M. (1999). Lecture Notes on General Relativity. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/2354635_Lecture_Notes_on_General_Relativity
【NO.36】 Doubts about General Relativity (1) - Is the Geometry Interpretation of Gravity a Paradox?
Discussion
24 replies
  • Chian FanChian Fan
“According to general theory of relativity, gravitation is not a force but a property of spacetime geometry. A test particle and light move in response to the geometry of the spacetime.”[1] Einstein's interpretation of gravity is purely geometrical, where even a free point particle without any properties and any interactions, moves in a curved spacetime along geodesics, but which are generated by the energy tensor Tµν [2]. Why isn't gravity generated directly by Tµν, but must take a circuitous route and be generated by the geometry of spacetime Gµν?
Gµν=G*Tµν
This is Einstein's field equation, and the Einstein tensor Gµν describes the Space-Time Curvature. We know that in classical mechanics and quantum field theory, it is the Hamiltonian, Lagrangian quantities that determine motion. Motion is essentially generated by energy-momentum interactions. Why is it irrelevant to energy-momentum in GR? Einstein had always expected the unification of electromagnetic and gravitational forces to be geometrically realized [3]*. Is such an expectation an exclusion of energy-momentum interactions in motion? Can the ultimate unification of forces be independent of energy-momentum and manifest itself only in motion in pure spacetime? If not, one of these must be wrong.
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Supplement: Gravity is still a force
Gravity appears to be a ‘spacetime gravity’, i.e., gravity caused by spacetime metric differences, the same as gravitational red shift and violet shift [1]. The current four-dimensional space-time ‘geodesic’ interpretation of gravity is to match the geometric appearance of Space-Time Curvature. Time and space are symmetrical, and geodesic motion is not initiated by the ‘arrow of time’ alone, but must be accompanied by equivalent spatial factors. Any interpretation that destroys the equivalence of space and time should be problematic.
[1] "What is Force, a Field? Where is the Force Field? How does it appear? Is the Force Field a Regulating Effect of the Energy-Momentum Field?"
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Notes
* "After his tremendous success in finding an explanation of gravitation in the geometry of space and time, it was natural that he should try to bring other forces along with gravitation into a “unified field theory” based on geometrical principles."
If one thinks that it holds only at Tµν = 0, see the next question NO.37: Is there a contradiction in the Schwarzschild spacetime metric solution?
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References
[1] Grøn, Ø., & Hervik, S. (2007). Einstein's Field Equations. In Einstein's General Theory of Relativity: With Modern Applications in Cosmology (pp. 179-194). Springer New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-69200-5_8
[2] Earman, J., & Glymour, C. (1978). Einstein and Hilbert: Two months in the history of general relativity. Archive for history of exact sciences, 291-308.
[3] Weinberg, S. (2005). Einstein’s Mistakes. Physics Today, 58(11).
Fundamental Physics is stuck in conceptual crisis and reached a dead end. What exactly is wrong with Fundamental Physics Research?
Discussion
339 replies
  • Gurcharn Singh SandhuGurcharn Singh Sandhu
Fundamental Physics Research is intended to explore the grand maze of the unknown. Throughout the last century, Physicists have occupied themselves with working out Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology in all their implications. In the process, Fundamental Physics has absorbed mathematical ideas and notions of increasing sophistication and abstraction. The tragedy of the last century was the gradual shift in our focus from the physical reality to the abstract mathematical formulations, which are supposed to describe physical reality. We appear to have been steadily indoctrinated into believing that due to complexity of physical reality, we can not even demand deeper understanding and mental visualization of the basic phenomena in quantum mechanical world. Now we are stuck in plethora of unfounded Belief Systems which are hindering any real progress in Fundamental Physics Research. On the other hand, Applied Physics is supported by physical or experimental feedback as well as mental visualization. As such Applied Physics never gets stuck in abstract mathematical formulations or unfounded Belief Systems.
As a consequence, Fundamental Physics researchers have inadvertently adopted certain abstract mathematical concepts into their physical worldview. For example, the notions of virtual particles, exchange theory of interaction, probability density representing instantaneous particle location, spacetime curvature, Black Holes, Big Bang, metric expansion of Space, etc. are truly abstract mathematical concepts which have been erroneously adopted in our physical worldview as physical realities. Experimental proofs and validations of such physically unacceptable mathematical concepts are often claimed through erroneous interpretation of raw observations. Agreed that Fundamental Research does require a lot of mathematical support, but the end results of any complex mathematical processing must be applicable to the physical world and hence must come within the grasp of human mind and mental visualization.
Perhaps, it is a part of Human Nature that we find ourselves so prone to mass indoctrination by dominant vested interest groups in all fields. Our inherent capacity to use Logic and Reason gets restricted or diminished under such a state of mass indoctrination and we involuntarily join 'Group Thinking'. Fundamental Research is one such area where indoctrination of innocent students and mass hypnosis of general public is inhibiting the use of Reason and Logic for discarding erroneous beliefs like Black Holes, Big Bang, probability waves, spacetime curvature etc.
In my opinion, Fundamental Physics Research is currently plagued by three dominant syndromes.
(a) "Emperor's New Clothes" Syndrome.
Throughout the last century, Industrial development and technological advancements remained in the public limelight and won public acclaim. However, Fundamental Physics research being of somewhat abstract and slow, could not compete with engineering and technology for winning public limelight and appreciation. As such, Fundamental Physics researchers instinctively started adopting highly abstract but sensational models of Nature, that could attract public attention in wonder and amazement, to win higher public acclaim in comparison with technological advancements. The adoption of highly abstract and sensational models in Fundamental Physics research for gaining public limelight, represents "Emperor's New Clothes" Syndrome. This approach has been adopted by the mainstream Physics community and sensational models of Black Holes, gravitational waves, Big Bang, weird QM models, particle entanglement, metric expansion of space etc. all represent this syndrome. These highly illogical but sensational models of Nature have now got embedded in permanent Belief Systems of the Scientific Community.
(b) "Six Blind Men and the Elephant" Syndrome.
If we represent the Nature by the proverbial 'Elephant', then the popular tale of "Six Blind Men and the Elephant" aptly highlights the current state of Fundamental Physics research. The six blind men in the popular tale could be represented by the researchers in the fields of Astrophysics, Particle Physics, Quantum Physics, Relativity Physics, Gravitational Physics and Cosmology. Just as in the popular tale, all researchers are extremely busy in making appropriate observations and making most sophisticated models thereof to represent Nature - 'The Elephant'. Many of such models have won public applaud and even Nobel Prizes. However, making models from raw observations, without necessary physical insight, often leads to fallacious Belief systems that defy Logic and Reason. Prominent examples of Models in this category are - Black Holes, Big Bang, Gravitational Waves, Spacetime Curvature, Length Contraction, Time Dilation, Fields without medium, Exchange Theory of Interaction, Probability Density representing instantaneous electron location, Atomic Orbitals, Metric Expansion of Space, Quantum Gravity, Particle Entanglement, etc. etc.
(c) "A Frog in the Well" Syndrome.
In spite of tens of thousands of advanced research papers being published every year, there is hardly any perceptible advancement in Fundamental Physics. One reason is that under the current system of research dissemination, it is virtually impossible for any researcher to know about the research contributions of all other researchers. Second reason is that when a researcher develops a model of certain aspect of Nature, due to long mental association and efforts put in, the model tends to get embedded in one's permanent Belief System. Accordingly, each researcher will tend to develop a personal Belief system which will act as a Benchmark for evaluating the models or contributions of all other researchers. In the absence of any centralized or common research dissemination and evaluation system, the individual Belief systems will constitute a "A Frog in the Well" Syndrome, which is a great hinderance for any advancement in Fundamental Physics Research. Most independent researchers are likely to be affected by this syndrome.
Under the circumstances, even if a few researchers do put up valuable research contributions for advancement of Fundamental Physics, we cannot distinguish their voices from the background noise. In my opinion, one possible way to put the Fundamental Physics Research back on the Right Track, is to appoint an International Experts Panel for Research Evaluation, by co-opting experts from various specialist and multi-disciplinary fields. This Panel may Evaluate and Grade all published research papers that may be referred to it by various research bodies (like ResearchGate) and academic institutes. Only High Grade research papers may then be released to public media for wider dissemination.
Learned researchers are requested to give their considered opinion on the issue of "What exactly is wrong with Fundamental Physics Research?" and how to rectify the situation.

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