ELECTRO MAGNETIC QUANTUM GRAVITY

On the Quantum Principle of Equivalence, Quantum Inertia, and the Meaning of Mass

Tom Ostoma and Mike Trushyk

48 O’HARA PLACE, Brampton, Ontario, L6Y 3R8

Thursday, October 15, 1998

ACKNOWLEGMENTS

We wish to thank R. Mongrain (P. Eng.) for his encouragement, constructive criticisms, and for the lengthy conversations on the nature of space, time, light, matter, and CA theory. We would like to also thank G. Gomes for the many lunch time discussions on the nature of quantum theory and space-time. Special thanks to L. Walker for his work in proof reading this document.

ABSTRACT

A new approach to quantum gravity called Electro-Magnetic Quantum Gravity (EMQG) is described. It is manifestly compatible with Cellular Automata (CA) theory (ref. 1), and is based on a new theory of inertia (ref. 5) proposed by R. Haisch, A. Rueda, and H. Puthoff (which we modified and called Quantum Inertia). They show that Newtonian Inertia is due to the strictly local electromagnetic force interactions of matter (quantum particles) with the surrounding charged virtual particles of the quantum vacuum. The sum of all the tiny electromagnetic forces originating from each charged particle in the mass with respect to the vacuum, is the source of the total inertial force of a mass which opposes accelerated motion in Newton’s law ‘F = MA’. Their theory also resolves the problems and paradoxes of accelerated motion introduced in Mach’s principle, by suggesting that the state of acceleration of the charged virtual particles of the quantum vacuum (with respect to a mass) serves as Newton’s universal reference frame for the mass, which Newton called ‘absolute’ space. The (net statistical) acceleration of the charged virtual particles of the quantum vacuum (with respect to some test mass) can be used as an absolute reference frame to gauge inertial mass. Therefore, this frame can be used to define both absolute acceleration and absolute mass, which is equivalent to relativistic rest mass. However, this frame cannot be used to gauge absolute state of motion of an inertial reference frame. Thus, Einstein’s principle of relativity is still applicable for inertial frames (frames of constant velocity motion, or where Newton’s law of inertia applies). The special relativistic treatment of inertial force, acceleration, and inertial mass is revised here to acknowledge the existence of absolute mass. We found that the special relativistic variation of mass with relative velocity m = m0 (1 – v2/c2)–1/2 is actually caused by the decrease in the effectiveness of the applied force, where the applied force and destination mass have a large relative velocity ‘v’. We show that this decrease of the applied force is caused by a relativistic timing effect of the received force exchange particles, which alters the received flux of the exchange bosons.

We invoked Einstein’s principle of equivalence of inertial and gravitational mass to understand the origin of gravitational mass from the perspective of quantum inertia. We found that gravity also involves the same ‘inertial’ electromagnetic force component that exists for inertial mass. We propose that the general relativistic Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) is a physical phenomenon, originating from common ‘lower level’ quantum processes occurring in both gravitational mass and inertial mass. Gravitational mass results from the interactions of both the electromagnetic force (photon exchanges) and the pure gravitational force (graviton exchanges) on matter, acting simultaneously. However, inertial mass is strictly the result of the electromagnetic force process given in quantum inertia (with negligible graviton processes present). For a gravitational test mass near the earth, the graviton exchange process occurring between the earth, the test mass, and the surrounding vacuum particles upsets perfect equivalence of inertial and gravitational mass, with the gravitational mass being slightly larger than inertial mass. Similarly, if a large and a tiny test mass are dropped simultaneously on the earth, the larger mass falls faster by a minute amount. The tiny deviation from perfect equivalence, known as the ‘Ostoma-Trushyk’ effect, might be detected experimentally. Of course any violation of the WEP also necessarily implies that the strong equivalence principle is no longer applicable.

It is proposed that all elementary (fermion) particles get their quantum mass numbers from combinations of just one fundamental matter (and anti-matter) particle called the ‘masseon’ particle. The masseon has one, fixed (smallest) quanta of mass (similar to the idea of a quanta of electric charge), which we call low level ‘mass charge’. The masseon also carries either a positive or negative (smallest) quanta of electric charge. Furthermore, we propose a new universal constant "i", defined as the inertial force existing between the quantum vacuum and a single charged masseon particle accelerating at 1 g. At 1g, this force is the smallest possible quanta of inertial and gravitational force. The masseon particle generates a fixed flux of gravitons, with a flux rate being completely unaffected by relativistic motion (called ‘low level mass’). The graviton is the vector boson exchange particle of the pure gravitational force interaction. In EMQG, the graviton exchanges are physically similar to the photon exchanges in QED, with the same concept of positive and negative gravitational ‘mass charge’ carried by masseons and anti-masseons. The ratio of the graviton to photon exchange force coupling is about 10-40. Near a large mass like the earth, we find that photon exchanges occur between the charged masseon particles of a test mass and the surrounding (falling) quantum vacuum virtual particles. We also find graviton exchanges occurring between the earth and the surrounding virtual particles of the quantum vacuum, and also directly between the earth and the test mass. The photon exchange process is responsible for the equivalence of inertial and gravitational mass. The graviton exchange process is responsible for the distortion of the (statistical average) acceleration vectors of the virtual particles of the quantum vacuum near the earth. There are equal numbers of virtual masseon and anti-masseon particles existing in the quantum vacuum everywhere, and at any given instant of time. This is why the cosmological constant is almost zero, in the universe; there is an equal proportion of attractive and repulsive gravitational forces in the quantum vacuum (just as there are an equal number of attractive and repulsive electrical forces).

4D curved Minkowski space-time is now a consequence of the behavior of matter (particles) and energy (photons) under the influence of this (statistical average) downward accelerated ‘flow’ of charged virtual particles of the quantum vacuum. This coordinated ‘accelerated flow’ of the virtual particles can be thought of as a special ‘Fizeau-like fluid’ that ‘flows’ through all matter near a gravitational field (and also in matter undergoing accelerated motion). Like in the Fizeau experiment (which was performed with a constant velocity water flow) the behavior of photons, clocks, and rulers are now affected by the accelerated flow of the virtual particles of the quantum vacuum. Einstein interpreted this phenomenon as being the result of 4D Minkowski space-time curvature. In EMQG, we take an alternative interpretation. Space-time measurements, which are based on measuring instruments made of matter, are now affected by the action of this accelerated ‘Fizeau-like fluid’.

At tiny quantum distance scales, there exists a kind of secondary (quantized) absolute 3D space and separate absolute (quantized) time as required by CA theory. This is represented by a rectangular array of numbers or cells; C(x,y,z). These cells change state after every new CA clock operation D t. The array of numbers C(x,y,z) is called CA space, which acts like the Newtonian version of Cartesian absolute space. There also exists a separate absolute time needed to evolve the numerical state of the CA. CA space and time are not effected by any physical interactions, and are also not accessible through direct measurement. In CA space, the Plank distance (1.6 x 10-35 meters) roughly corresponds to the minimum event distance (or cell ‘size’), and Plank time (5.4 x 10-44 sec) to the minimum time interval possible. We show that any CA model automatically leads to a maximum speed limit for the transfer of information from place to place in CA space, and hence leads to strict physical locality of all interactions. Furthermore, we show that by adopting absolute CA space and time coordinates for the description of a pair of observers in inertial reference frames, with a relative velocity ‘v’, the Lorentz transformation follows mathematically from CA theory. Hence, Minkowski 4D flat space-time of special relativity can be seen as the direct consequence of universal Cellular Automata, as seen by inertial observers, who are not aware, and cannot measure the absolute units of CA space and time.

In EMQG, Gravitational Waves (GW) are not directly quantized by the gravitons. A periodic accelerating mass causes a corresponding periodic variation in the graviton flux at any point surrounding the mass. This is responsible for the initial periodic disturbance in the (net statistical) average acceleration vectors of the virtual particles of the quantum vacuum (masseons and anti-masseons in the immediate vicinity of the mass). This periodic disturbance of the average acceleration vectors of the nearby virtual particles with respect to the original mass is the origin of the gravitational wave, which can carry energy to a very distant detector. The GW carries a large energy density (due to the huge numbers of virtual particles involved), which is quite capable of explaining the large stiffness of the GW predicted by general relativity (ref. 13). The ‘stiffness’ of the GW can induce a vibration in a large solid aluminum cylinder after traveling for hundreds of light years! Once the periodic virtual particle disturbance is started, it is self-propagating by the mutual quantum vacuum virtual particles electromagnetic force interactions. The undisturbed acceleration vectors of the virtual particles ahead of the GW, now becomes disturbed by the electromagnetic force interaction when the GW arrives. Thus, in EMQG, the outward propagating GW is really a time-varying periodic increase and decreases in the net acceleration of the virtual particle acceleration vectors (with respect to the original mass), that was started by the time varying graviton flux. Once the GW is initiated, however, it is self-sustaining as is propagates throughout space electromagnetically. A very simple physical interpretation of the Lense-Thirring effect is given based on the propagation of gravitons and virtual particles. The finite speed of the graviton allows a massive rotating object to carry an observer a small amount during rotation. The virtual particles take the same path as the gravitons. Since 4D space-time curvature is in the direction of the virtual particle flow, inertial frames appear to be dragged by the earth by 42.5 milli-arcseconds.

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