The Quantum Mechanics of Gravity
Abstract
The quantum mechanics of gravity are reflected at an astronomical level by the virial theorem. Yet we need to distinguish between the organisation of matter in bulk gravity and in nebular gravity. It is said that gravity is far weaker than electromagnetism (energy E), but the reason for this appearance lies in the way that gravitational potential energy could be packaged as quanta of i√E, imaginary energy carried by gravitons as spin 2 bosons. About half of a star's energy production may get converted (or transduced) into gravitational potential energy, some of which may be emitted as gravitons. That is to say, a star generates its own gravitational field. This might explain why the Sun's surface seems relatively cool when compared to the Sun's core or its solar corona. To have a comprehensive model of quantum mechanics explaining the behaviour of both photons and gravitons could enable the calibration of observational studies in astronomy with experimental plasma physics in the laboratory. There exists a million times more hydrogen and helium together in the Universe than all of the heavy elements, and yet its dynamics are not well understood. A pinball machine model makes an analogy for their behaviour. The activity of gravitons could be noticeable in the neighbourhood of nebular gravity where forbidden lines appear in the emission spectra of astronomical phenomena such as nebulae, solar corona, auroras, and supernovae. An understanding of the peculiarities of gravitons would fill out the Standard Model of particle physics.
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E2122W