The Universe is Only Spacetime by John A. Macken
How many component parts are
required to construct the universe? The standard model has so many component parts that
it is difficult to state a specific number. String theory has vibrating strings, branes,
exchange particles and 11 dimensions. This book makes the case that everything in the
universe can be formed from the single building block of 4 dimensional spacetime. However,
this is not the quiet, smoothly curving spacetime envisioned by Albert Einstein.
Instead, it is the composite of Einstein's spacetime and the quantum mechanical spacetime
filled with a tremendous energy density of quantum fluctuations. This book shows how
all fundamental particles, forces and cosmology can be derived from this energetic 4
dimensional spacetime.
Download the book (5 MB .pdf)
Revision 7.1 – Placed online for comments – May 2013
Quantum mechanics is the most
successful theory devised by man. However, this success is largely a case of the
equations corresponding to experimental observation. The current physical interpretation
of quantum mechanics does not lead to a conceptually understandable model of the universe.
Furthermore, there is clear evidence that the current starting assumptions for some
quantum mechanical calculations contain at least one error. When calculations fall
apart and yield an impossible answer such as infinity, these equations are screaming
that a rigorous extension of the starting assumptions gives nonsense. Renormalization
might seem to fix the problem, but this is merely a case of artificially adjusted the
answer so that it no longer is a logical extension of the starting assumptions.
Instead the unreasonable answer should be taken as an indication that the model being
analyzed contains at least one erroneous assumption. The approach taken in this book
is to build a new conceptual model of the universe that is compatible with the equations
of quantum mechanics and general relativity but is based on the simplest possible starting
assumption: The universe is only spacetime.
To most scientists this
starting assumption will initially seem impossible. How can matter, light, galaxies
and the forces of nature be obtained from what appears to be the empty vacuum of
spacetime? Well, spacetime is far from being a featureless void. It has well known
properties such as a speed of light and a gravitational constant as well as proposed
properties such as impedance and a bulk modulus (derived here). Most important, the
quantum mechanical version of spacetime is full of activity. Vacuum fluctuations
(zero point energy) possess a vast energy density that only interacts with our observable
universe (fermions and bosons) through quantum mechanical operations. Understanding
the quantum mechanical properties of spacetime and reconciling these properties
with general relativity reveals how this single building block can be the source
of everything in the universe. Furthermore, the biggest mysteries of quantum mechanics
become conceptually understandable when we adopt the model that builds particles and
forces from the quantum mechanical properties of spacetime.
The model of the universe described
here not only is compatible with existing equations but goes further. For example,
this model gives new insights into the forces of nature. Gravity is shown to be closely
related to the other forces of nature. Simple equations show this close relationship
and explain why gravity is such a weak force compared to the other forces. Inertia is
derived and connected to the energy of fundamental particles. An electrical field is
shown to be an unsymmetrical distortion of spacetime. Equations are derived that
convert charge to a distortion of spacetime. Photons are shown to experience the same
impedance as gravitational waves. A new cosmological model of the universe explains
how the Big Bang and the expansion of the universe is the result of spacetime undergoing
a transformation that continues today.
The content of this book was not
first presented in technical papers because the subject is just too large. It is
necessary to lay out a series of introductory ideas, and then weave these concepts
into a single coherent theory. The first three chapters lay the groundwork of physical
interpretations and definitions that prepares the reader to understand the proposed model.
Development of this wave based model of the universe starts in earnest in chapter #4.
Readers are
encouraged to provide comments, corrections or objections by sending an email
to:
john@onlyspacetime.com
The book is available as
a single 5 MB unit (PDF Book
Download) or individual chapters are available below.
If the book is downloaded, I recommend saving the book (click the save icon),
then read the saved version of the book. This will be a larger format and it
will not be necessary to download the book for future reading.
Table
of Contents
1 Confined Light Has
Inertia 1-1
•
Light in a Reflecting Box • Confined Black Body Radiation • de Broglie Waves
• 8 Particle-like Properties of a Confined Photon
2 Definitions and Concepts from
General Relativity 2-1
•
Schwarzschild Solution • Definition of Gravitational Gamma 
• Schwarzschild Coordinate System • Coordinate Speed of Light • Gravitational Acceleration and the Rate of Time Gradient • Shapiro
Experiment • Gravity Increases Volume • Connection Between the Rate of Time
and Volume
3 Gravitational Transformations of the
Units of Physics 3-1
• Why
Are the Laws of Physics Unchanged When the Rate of Time Changes? • Normalized
Coordinate System • Length and Time Transformations • Transformations Required
to Preserve the Laws of Physics • Insights From the Transformations
4 Assumptions
4-1
•
This Book's Basic Assumption • QM Model of Spacetime • GR Model of Spacetime
• Dipole Waves in Spacetime • Planck Length/Time Limitation On Dipole Waves •
Impedance of Spacetime • 5 Wave-Amplitude Equations • Bulk Modulus
of Spacetime • The Single Fundamental Force
5 Spacetime Particle Model 5-1
•
Spacetime Vortex in a Sea of Vacuum Energy • Particle Design Criteria •
Inertia from Confined Energy • The Rotar Model of a Particle • Quantum Radius
and Quantum Volume of a Rotar • Rotating Grav Field • Analysis of Lobes
• Dynamic Time • Strain Amplitude Hβ • Particle Size
Analysis • Stability Mechanism • Higgs Boson Not Needed
6 Analysis of the Particle Model and Derivation of Gravity 6-1
•
Rotar Energy Test • Rotar's Angular Momentum Test • Dipole Moment • Quantum
Amplitude Equalities • Circulating Power • Rotar's Theoretical Maximum
Force (Strong Force) • Electromagnetic Force at Distance Rq
• Rotar's Gravitational Force at Distance Rq • Weakness of
Gravity • Force – Amplitude Relationship • The 4 Forces Are Intimately
Connected
7 Virtual Particles, Vacuum Energy and
Unity 7-1
•
Virtual Particle Pairs • Vacuum Energy • Harmonic Oscillators in Spacetime •
Energy Density of Vacuum Energy • Energy Density Equals Pressure • Bulk
Modulus of Spacetime • Vacuum Energy Is a Superfluid • Stability of Particles
Made of Waves • Vacuum Energy Stabilization of a Rotar • Minimum Required
Energy Density • Maximum Attracting Force • Asymptotic Freedom •
Rotation of Molecules • Unity Hypothesis • Entanglement-Unity Connection
8 Analysis of Gravitational Attraction 8-1
•
Nonlinear Effects of Waves in Spacetime • Newtonian Gravitational Equation
Derivation • Connection between Gravitational Force and Electromagnetic Force
• Equivalence of Acceleration and Gravity Examined • Comparison of a
Rotar's Rotating Grav Field and Gravitational Acceleration • Energy Density in
the Rotating Grav Field • Gravitational Energy Storage
9 Electromagnetic Conversions and
Spacetime Units 9-1
• Charge Conversion Constant •
Spacetime Interpretation of Charge • Impedance of Spacetime Conversion • What Is an Electric Field? • Electric Field Conversion • Proposed Experiments • Spacetime Units Conversion Table
10 Rotar's External Volume 10-1
•
Gravitational and Electromagnetic Strain Amplitudes • Electric Field
Cancelation • Model of the External Volume of a Rotar • Wavelets • Path Integral • de
Broglie Waves • Ψ Function • Relativistic Contraction • Compton
Scattering • Double Slit Experiment
11 Photons 11-1
•
How Big Is a Photon? • Photon - Definition • Waves in Vacuum Energy • Wave
Model of an Electron‑Positron Annihilation • Entanglement • Single Photon
Model • Photon's Momentum Uncertainty Angle • Compton Scattering Revisited • Limits
on Absorption • Photon Emission from a Single Atom • Recoil •
Huygens-Fresnel-Kirchhoff Principle
12 Bound Electrons, Quarks and
Neutrinos 12-1
•
Electrons Bound in Atoms • Physical Interpretation of the Ψ Function •
Intrinsic Energy of Quarks • Energy of Bound Quarks • Calculation of a
Proton's Radius • Removal of a Quark from a Hadron • Gluons
• Modeling a Neutrino With Rest Mass • W and Z Bosons
13 Cosmology I – Planck Spacetime 13-1
•
Comoving Coordinates • The 
-CDM Model • Planck Spacetime • Maximum
Energy Density • Creation of New Proper Volume • Background Gravitational
Gamma of the Universe u • Immature Gravity • Implication of
an Increasing u in the Universe • Energy Density of Planck
Spacetime • Proposed Alternative Model of the Beginning of the Universe
• Cosmic Expansion from u • Starting the Universe from
Planck Spacetime • Radiation Dominated Epoch • Lost Energy Becomes Vacuum
Energy • Estimates of the Current Value of u
• Dark Matter Proposal
14 Cosmology II – Spacetime Transformation
Model 14-1
•
Alternative To The Big Bang Model • Shrinking Meter Sticks • No Event
Horizon • Constant Energy Density When Vacuum Energy Included • Redshift
Analysis • Estimating the Density of Vacuum Energy • Units of Physics in the
Spacetime Transformation Model • 10120 Calculation • Does Dark
Energy Exist? • Cooling of the Universe • Black Holes • Time's Arrow • The Fate of
the Universe
15 Definitions, Symbols and Key
Equations 15-1
Some
key points from the book are:
- Even
though a photon is commonly defined as a massless particle, a photon exhibits inertia
if it is confined in an optical resonator. The inertia arises from bidirectional
Doppler shifts when the resonator is accelerated. This is intrinsic inertia that
does not require a Higgs field. A confined photon is shown to possess a total of
8 particle-like properties. Fundamental particles are not confined photons, but this
similarity is used to explain how fundamental particles can be formed out of waves
in spacetime. (chapter 1)
-
Spacetime is more than 3 spatial dimensions plus time. Spacetime is shown to
also have the largest possible impedance and bulk modulus (chapters 4 and 7).
Therefore spacetime is a very stiff elastic medium which supports energetic waves.
-
Vacuum fluctuations in spacetime are known to be highly energetic (vacuum energy,
virtual particle pairs, Casimir effect, etc.). It is proposed that vacuum
fluctuations are actually dipole waves in spacetime that lack quantized angular
momentum. General relativity forbids dipole waves in spacetime but they are
proposed to be permitted by the uncertainty principle. This is the same as saying
that the fluctuating spatial displacement of spacetime cannot exceed Planck length
and the fluctuating temporal displacement of spacetime cannot exceed Planck time.
(chapter 4)
-
The dipole waves in spacetime that form vacuum fluctuations are proposed to have
the properties of a superfluid including the inability to possess angular momentum.
Any angular momentum present in the sea of vacuum fluctuations is quantized. (chapter 7)
-
A fundamental particle model is proposed that is a rotating distortion is spacetime
that forms a closed loop, one Compton wavelength in circumference. This model depends
on an interaction with the vacuum energy to form stable resonances. The proposed
structure is analyzed and shown to possess the required particle-like properties
including quantized angular momentum, intrinsic inertia (rest mass) and the ability
to appear to be a point particle in a collision experiment. The quantum mechanical
properties of particles are made conceptually understandable. (chapters 5, 6, 7)
-
This model generates only one truly fundamental force. This is the repulsive force
exhibited when waves in spacetime, propagating at the speed of light, are deflected.
Variations of this single fundamental force result in the four forces of nature.
Attraction between particles is explained. (chapters 4, 5, 6 ,8)
-
Gravity is derived from this fundamental force. The reason for the weakness of
gravity is shown to be that gravity is associated with the nonlinearity of spacetime
which is a weak second order effect. New relationships between the forces of nature
are obtained using insights from the wave-based model. (chapters 6 and 8)
-
Compton scattering has been used to "prove" that a photon must have particle-like
properties. However, it is shown that a purely wave based explanation of both an
electron and a photon gives the same scattering characteristics. Furthermore,
the wave-based model is actually superior because it shows how it is possible
for the electron to go from its initial velocity to its final velocity without
accelerating through intermediate velocities. (chapter 9)
-
A new cosmological model of the universe is proposed that is based entirely on the
properties of spacetime. The expansion of the universe is viewed as being the
result of a transformation of spacetime that started with the "Big Bang" and
continues today. This model eliminates the need for dark energy and it gives
different predictions about the future of the universe. (chapters 13, 14)
Readers are encouraged to provide
comments, corrections or objections by sending an email to:
john@onlyspacetime.com
Download the book (5 MB .pdf)