HalClem

Ether: I don’t feel the need to resurrect the ether for this argument. I am proposing the same boring old three dimensions of space plus one of time as dealt with by Einstein, plus one additional to allow the removal to take place. All of his results are, I believe, untouched by my addition - very fortunately , as the hypothesis would be a non-starter otherwise! I am merely proposing a mechanism for General Relativity to work, i.e. a means by which matter might curve space. I propose that fundamental particles occupy a volume on the order of the Planck length. I propose that space-time is quantised at a Planck-length scale. I then propose that, by analogy with black hole theory on the very large scale, which says that matter can be eliminated from this universe, perhaps (on the very small scale) quanta of spacetime might be removed. I propose that vibrational modes of fundamental particles cause removal of spacetime quanta Why to another universe? Because of the analogy with large scale black holes. But also because it still requires some higher dimensionality to allow for removal within this universe, if the quanta go directly to another location in this universe. The question of directionality for the annihilation of space-time quanta – well, in bulk matter, it doesn’t really matter whether each individual mass “source” removes quanta in any specific direction. I would guess the observed result would be random directions since they would be averaged over a vast number of particles. Alternatively (or additionally) it doesn’t really matter about directionality, since removal of a space-time quantum would just result in all the surrounding quanta (quadrillions of them available!) shuffling up to take its place. This is what gives space its curvature – flat space shuffles in to become curved about a centre of mass. This can shuffle in from any direction. This argument also covers the question of “location” also. The particle which has just removed a quantum, necessarily finds itself in the next quantum. It has “moved” in space. The rate of removal? I suggest a fundamental frequency associated with each fundamental particle. The higher the frequency, the greater the rate of removal, and therefore the greater the mass observed. Hadrons would have a rate determined by their constituent quarks. Leptons would have a lower rate (lower mass). Different types of quarks would have their own frequencies. Atomic nuclei, composed of several protons and neutrons (each of which is composed of quarks) would have masses which are the sum total of its particles (less, of course, nuclear binding energies etc ). Both gravitational and inertial mass are covered here in exactly the same way as in Einstein’s original theory. It really is just a way of creating the curvature of space that Einstein requires. How does it remove the quanta? Perhaps at the Planck scale, the presence of a fundamental particle (a vibrating string?) twists space-time quanta so tightly that it moves through another dimension. Near a centre of mass (say a planet) I envisage a constant flux of spacetime pouring down towards it, carrying everything with it. So the natural direction for an object (say a rock) at rest in relation to the planet, would be straight down. If the rock has a velocity at an angle to the planet, it will move in a curved path. Exactly as in the General Theory. Over to you….

Einstein stated that mass bends space-time, and curved space-time affects mass. He did not give any mechanism by which this might occur. The following is the basis of an idea I had about twenty years ago. If the particles which provide the mass of an atom (quarks) are small enough, their density must be extremely high, perhaps high enough to act as singularities. From recent browsing, I find that this has been proposed independently. However, I suggest we can speculate further on this. Black holes are associated with wormholes. Might it be possible that each fundamental particle could act to “destroy” quanta of space time continually? I envisage these quanta would be Planck-length size, and removed at some rate related to a frequency of vibration (e.g. of a string?). Concentrations of matter would continually "suck up" space-time, which would result in the observed curvature. Between any two centres of mass, there would be a reduction in the space-time between them, i.e. they would be “attracted” towards each other. It can be shown very easily that this would be an inverse square law of attraction. As to where these quanta of spacetime disappear to – I proposed that they go to neighbouring universes, appearing at random anywhere within those universes. Other universes will also be pushing quanta into our universe. I would speculate that the loss and gain for any universe would be equal. Because the quantity of matter is minute in comparison with the volume of the universe, this means a very small rate of quanta appearing per unit volume of existing void. The local effect is tiny, but accumulates when considered over the total volume, leading to an expansion of each universe in the voids between major centres of mass. Closer to the centres of mass, the overwhelming effect is of quanta disappearing (net attraction). Hence an inverse square law applies close to mass centres (say the solar system, or the Galaxy), with an expansion (apparent repulsion, or negative gravity) in the great voids. Of course this is complete speculation, but I can find nothing to rule it out. Can anyone else?