Re: Gravity Solves Paradox raised by Einstein's Theory
Posted by Uncle Al on Sep 26, 2003 at 13:28
(68.5.243.16)Re: Gravity Solves Paradox raised by Einstein's Theory (Mike Kremer)
"Einstein was not wrong, but Einstein can be incomplete. That is where you look for vulnerabilities."
Yup.
A non-geometric model of spacetime is unimaginable given mathematical and physical consequences of symmetries. General Relativity models continuous spacetime, going beyond conformal symmetry (scale independence) to symmetry under all smooth coordinate transformations - general covariance (the stress-energy tensor embodying local energy and momentum) - resisting quantization. General Relativity predicts evolution of an initial system state with arbitrary certainty. Quantum mechanics' observables display discrete states. Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle limits knowledge about conjugate variables in a system state, disallowing exact prediction of its volution. Covariance with respect to reflection in space and time is not required by the Poincaré group of Special Relativity or the Einstein group of General Relativity.
Anomalies must exist! They will not be found unless one goes looking for them in the right neighborhoods. You cannot find a flaw in GR by looking where it is strong. You probe where it has no armor at all.
Einstein loathed quantized (discontinuous) variables. GR is parity-even (gerade) as is Newton. The very few parity-odd (ungerade) tests of GR used polarized spin because explicit mathematical parity transformation - inversion of all coordinate axes through the origin - had no calculable physical observable associated with it. That changed in 1999 with Petitjean's ab initio quantitative CHI.
I've been pushing to do a literal parity test of GR using explicitly calculated test masses. Physics has been pushing back saying "nothing else has worked, why should this?" Hey guys... if nothing else has worked then you try something different. It is guaranteed to achieve the historical standard of output, and may do marginally better.
--
Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/eotvos.htm
(Do something naughty to physics)