Gravity and the quantum vacuum inertia hypothesis

In previous work it has been shown that the electromagnetic quantum vacuum, or electromagnetic zero‐point field, makes a contribution to the inertial reaction force on an accelerated object. We show that the result for inertial mass can be extended to passive gravitational mass. As a consequence the weak equivalence principle, which equates inertial to passive gravitational mass, appears to be explainable. This in turn leads to a straightforward derivation of the classical Newtonian gravitational force. We call the inertia and gravitation connection with the vacuum fields the quantum vacuum inertia hypothesis . To date only the electromagnetic field has been considered. It remains to extend the hypothesis to the effects of the vacuum fields of the other interactions. We propose an idealized experiment involving a cavity resonator which, in principle, would test the hypothesis for the simple case in which only electromagnetic interactions are involved. This test also suggests a basis for the free parameter η(ν) which we have previously defined to parametrize the interaction between charge and the electromagnetic zero‐point field contributing to the inertial mass of a particle or object.     

A Universal Regulator?

By using the principle of metrical invariance which requires that all physical laws are independent of the choice of units (alternatively, all physical laws are invariant with respect to scale transformations of space-time coordinates) and Goldstone's theorem, a universal regulator is discovered. The cosmic field is the Yang-Mills field of the local scale transformations. Its physical role is as follows. Cosmon, its quantum, is a massless, spinless, and neutral particle. The cosmic field is created by inertial masses. Therefore it participates in all physical processes and if its presence is taken into account, then the quantum field theory is free from all ultraviolet infinities. From the point of view of Yang-Mills field theory, it is proved that the so-called gravitational masses are identical with inertial masses and the gravitational field is created by inertial masses moving non-inertially. This fact permits to solve satisfactorily the problem of energy-momentum complex of the gravitational field. The system of equations which defines simultaneously the cosmic and gravitational fields is established. A non-Einstein cosmology is outlined.     

Theory of Gravitational-Inertial Field of Universe. II. On Critical Systems in Universe

Application of the equations of the gravitational-inertial field to the problem of free motion in the inertial field (to the cosmologic problem) leads to results according to which 1. all Galaxies in the Universe “disperse” from each other according to Hubble's law, 2. the “dispersion” of bodies represents a free motion in the inertial field and Hubble's law represents a law of motion of free body in the inertial field, 3. for arbitrary mean distribution densities of space masses different from zero the space is Lobachevskian. All critical systems (with Schwarzschild radius) are specific because they exist in maximalinertial and gravitational potentials. The Universe represents a critical system, it exists under the Schwarzschild radius. In high-potential inertial and gravitational fields the material mass in a static state or in motion with deceleration is subject to an inertial and gravitational “annihilation”. At the maximal value of inertial and gravitational potentials (= c²) the material mass is being completely “evaporated” transforming into radiation mass. The latter is being concentrated in the “horizon” of the critical system. All critical systems-black holes-represent geon systems, i.e. local formations of gravitational-electromagnetic radiations, held together by their own gravitational and inertial fields. The Universe, being a critical system, is “wrapped” in a geon crown.     

Gravitational mass and energy gradient in the ultra-strong magnetic fields

The paper aims to apply the complex octonion to explore the influence of the energy gradient on the Eötvös experiment, impacting the gravitational mass in the ultra-strong magnetic fields. Until now the Eötvös experiment has never been validated under the ultra-strong magnetic field. It is aggravating the existing serious qualms about the Eötvös experiment. According to the electromagnetic and gravitational theory described with the complex octonions, the ultra-strong magnetic field must result in a tiny variation of the gravitational mass. The magnetic field with the gradient distribution will generate the energy gradient. These influencing factors will exert an influence on the state of equilibrium in the Eötvös experiment. That is, the gravitational mass will depart from the inertial mass to a certain extent, in the ultra-strong magnetic fields. Only under exceptional circumstances, especially in the case of the weak field strength, the gravitational mass may be equal to the inertial mass approximately. The paper appeals intensely to validate the Eötvös experiment in the ultra-strong electromagnetic strengths. It is predicted that the physical property of gravitational mass will be distinct from that of inertial mass.     

Dynamics of a gravitational field. I

A dynamic theory of a gravitational field is constructed by analogy with electromagnetic field theory in a two-dimensional space. The main point of this paper is the determination in Einstein spaces of the analogs of inertial and quasiinertial frames of reference in twodimensional space. The possibility is discussed of interpreting the velocity field of the basis of such frames of reference as potentials of the gravitational field. This then permits a dynamic theory of the gravitational field (field equations, energy characteristics) to be constructed in Maxwellian form.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 5, pp. 97–103, May, 1973.In conclusion, I take this opportunity of expressing thanks to Professor V. I. Rodichev for constant attention to the work.     

On a new variational principle in general relativity and the energy of the gravitational field

A new variational principle based on the affine connection in space-time is proposed. This leads to a new formulation of general relativity. The gravitational field is a field of inertial frames in space-time. The metricg appears as a momentum canonically conjugate to the gravitational field. In the case of simple matter fields, e.g., scalar fields, electromagnetic fields, Proca fields, or hydrodynamical matter, the new formulation is equivalent to the traditional one. A new formulation of conservation laws is proposed.     

Is active gravitational mass equal to inertial mass?

It is possible, within the framework of general relativity, to define an active gravitational mass density of incoherent matter. It is not equal to the inertial mass density, except when at rest. The concept can be specialized to a single massive particle; again, its active gravitational mass is not equal to its inertial mass, except when it rests. A measurement of the impulse imparted to a test particle by a massive body passing nearby can establish the difference, and it may be possible to carry out this measurement in a laboratory. As a by-product of our computations we obtain a generalization to nonradial motion of the slowing-down effect in a Schwarzschild field.     

On the theory of inertial gravitational fields

The generalized equations of the inertial gravitational field are derived from variational principles. It is shown that variational properties of inertial gravitational potentials have important peculiarities which cause peculiarities of equations obtained.     

Post-Newtonian approximation for a rotating frame of reference

The field equations of general relativity are solved to post-Newtonian order for a rotating frame of reference. A new method of approximation is used based on a 3+1 decomposition of the equations. The results are expressed explicitly in terms of the gravitational potentials. The space-time is asymptotically flat but not locally flat. The space-time metric contains gravitational terms, inertial terms, and coupled gravitational-inertial terms. The inertial terms in the equation of motion are in agreement with terms obtained by other authors using kinematic methods. The metric and equation of motion reduce to those for an inertial frame of reference under a simple coordinate transformation. The total energy of a particle is given. For the restricted three-body problem this represents the relativistic extension of Jacobi's integral to post-Newtonian order.This article received an honorable mention from the Gravity Research Foundation for the year 1984—Ed.     

On the gravitodynamics of moving bodies

In the present work we propose a generalization of Newton’s gravitational theory from the original works of Heaviside and Sciama, that takes into account both approaches, and accomplishes the same result in a simpler way than the standard cosmological approach. The established formulation describes the local gravitational field related to the observables and effectively implements the Mach’s principle in a quantitative form that retakes Dirac’s large number hypothesis. As a consequence of the equivalence principle and the application of this formulation to the observable universe, we obtain, as an immediate result, a value of Ω = 2. We construct a dynamic model for a galaxy without dark matter, which fits well with recent observational data, in terms of a variable effective inertial mass that reflects the present dynamic state of the universe and that replicates from first principles, the phenomenology proposed in MOND. The remarkable aspect of these results is the connection of the effect dubbed dark matter with the dark energy field, which makes it possible for us to interpret it as longitudinal gravitational waves.     

The Case for Inertia as a Vacuum Effect: A Reply to Woodward and Mahood

The possibility of an extrinsic origin for inertial reaction forces has recently seen increased attention in the physical literature. Among theories of extrinsic inertia, the two considered by the current work are (1) the hypothesis that inertia is a result of gravitational interactions and (2) the hypothesis that inertial reaction forces arise from the interaction of material particles with local fluctuations of the quantum vacuum. A recent article supporting the former and criticizing the latter is shown to contain substantial errors.     

Theory of Gravitational-Inertial Field of Universe

In this paper the basic proposition is a generalization of the metric tensor by introduction of an inertial field tensor satisfying ?_ig_lm ? g_lm;i ≠ 0. On the basis of variational equations a system of more general covariant equations of gravitational-inertial field is obtained. In Einstein's approximation these equations reduce to the field equations of Einstein. The solution of fundamental problems of generl taheory of relativity by means of the new equations give the same results as Einstein's equations. However application of these equations to the cosmologic problem leads to following results: 1. All Galaxies in the Universe (actually all bodies if gravitational attraction is not considered) “disperse” from each other according to Hubble's law. Thus contrary to Friedmann's theory (according to which the “expansion of Universe” began from the singular state with an infinite velocity) the velocity of “dispersion” of bodies begins from the zero value and in the limit tends to the velocity of light. 2. The “dispertion” of bodies represents a free motion in the inertial field and Hubble's law represents a law of motion of free bodies in the inertial field - the law of inertia. All critical systems (with Schwarzschild radius) are specific because they exist in maximal inertial and gravitational potentials. The Universe represents a critical system, it exists under the Schwarzschild radius. In the high-potential inertial and gravitational fields the material mass in a static state or in the process of motion with decelleration is subject to an inertial and gravitational “annihilation”. Under the maximal value of inertial and gravitational potentials (= c²) the material mass is completely “evaporated” transforming into a radiation mass. The latter is concentrated in the “horizon” of the critical system. All critical systems –“black holes”- represent geon systems, i.e., the local formations of gravitational-electromagnetic radiations, held together by their own gravitational and inertial fields. The Universe, being a critical system, is “wrapped” in a geon crown. The Universe is in a state of dynamical equilibrium. Near the external part of its boundary surface a transformation of matter into electromagnetic-gravitational-neutrineal energy (geon mass) takes place. Inside the Universe, in the galaxies takes place the synthesis of matter from geon mass, penetrating from the external part of the world (from geon crown) by means of a tunneling mechanism. The geon system may be considered as a natural entire cybernetic system.     

Gravity, Inertia, and Quantum Vacuum Zero Point Fields

Over the past several years Haisch, Rueda, and others have made the claim that the origin of inertial reaction forces can be explained as the interaction of electrically charged elementary particles with the vacuum electromagnetic zero-point field expected on the basis of quantum field theory. After pointing out that this claim, in light of the fact that the inertial masses of the hadrons reside in the electrically chargeless, photon-like gluons that bind their constituent quarks, is untenable, the question of the role of quantum zero-point fields generally in the origin of inertia is explored. It is shown that, although non-gravitational zero-point fields might be the cause of the gravitational properties of normal matter, the action of non-gravitational zero-point fields cannot be the cause of inertial reaction forces. The gravitational origin of inertial reaction forces is then briefly revisited. Recent claims critical of the gravitational origin of inertial reaction forces by Haisch and his collaborators are then shown to be without merit.     

Nordström’s scalar theory of gravity and the equivalence principle

General Relativity obeys the three equivalence principles, the “weak” one (all test bodies fall the same way in a given gravitational field), the “Einstein” one (gravity is locally effaced in a freely falling reference frame) and the “strong” one (the gravitational mass of a system equals its inertial mass to which all forms of energy, including gravitational energy, contribute). The first principle holds because matter is minimally coupled to the metric of a curved spacetime so that test bodies follow geodesics. The second holds because Minkowskian coordinates can be used in the vicinity of any event. The fact that the latter, strong, principle holds is ultimately due to the existence of superpotentials which allow to define the inertial mass of a gravitating system by means of its asymptotic gravitational field, that is, in terms of its gravitational mass. Nordström’s theory of gravity, which describes gravity by a scalar field in flat spacetime, is observationally ruled out. It is however the only theory of gravity with General Relativity to obey the strong equivalence principle. I show in this paper that this remarkable property is true beyond post-newtonian level and can be related to the existence of a “Nordström-Katz” superpotential.     

矢引力子场度规场引力理论的共形平直静止解及引力场的能量动量赝张量的正常性

本文求出了VGM引力理论的共形平直静止解。文中把胡宁表达式引入VGM,它同样是守恒的能量动量表达式。对于单个集中质量的引力场,与GR一样,可证实引力质量与惯性质量相等。但Einstein的等效原理在这理论中并不成立。利用所求得的解,可知当n<1/4时,引力场的能量动量赝张量就是正常的。 关键词：     

Generalized equations of the gravitoinertial field. II

A generalized Lagrangian of the gravitational and inertial fields is introduced. Modified field equations are obtained.     

A scalar field theory of gravitation

A scalar theory of gravitation is developed from a variational principle. The speed of light is taken to be a function of the potential of the gravitational field. The predictions of the light deflection and the advancement of the perihelion agree with those made by Einstein's theory. The gravitational (active) mass differs from the inertial (passive) mass and both are dependent on the gravitational potential.     

Gravitational radiation of Island systems with an electromagnetic field

A study is made of the gravitational radiation of a system of bounded sources in the presence of an electromagnetic field. A class of frames of reference-analogs of inertial frames in flat space-is introduced on the basis of the criterion proposed by Dozmorov. Expressions are obtained for the total energy of such systems and the flux of gravitational radiation.     

Gravi-inertial reference frames in Schwarzschild and Kerr spaces

Gravi-inertial reference frames — the analogue of inertial frames in two-dimensional space — are constructed in Schwarzschild and Kerr spaces. With their help the energy, momentum, and angular momentum of these systems are determined. A form is found for writing Kerr's solution in Bondi-Sachs coordinates in the slow-rotation approximation. A new solution of Einstein's equations is found in this approximation which describes the gravitational field of a rotating and radiating source.     

Model of vector gravimetry based on a correctable two-component inertial navigation system

A correctable three-component inertial navigation system is suggested to be transformed into a two-component system capable of estimating the earth’s gravitational field. The results of a computational experiment are presented.