arXiv subjects

B. G. Sidharth

Publications and source records attributed to B. G. Sidharth.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Gravitation Revisited

Gravitation has posed a puzzle and a problem for many decades. Attempts to unify it with other fundamental interactions have failed. These problems and puzzles have been underscored by the likes of Witten and Weinberg. We survey this and argue that gravitation has a different character compared to other fundamental interactions - it is an energy distributed over all the elementary particles in the universe. The above puzzle and problem is resolved satisfactorily. These considerations lead to a varying $G$ cosmology consistent with observation. It is argued that apart from the usual tests, the above explains in addition the anomalous accelerations of the Pioneer spacecrafts. Further tests are also proposed.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2006

Looking beyond special relativity

Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity was proposed a little over a hundred years back. It remained a bedrock of twentieth century physics right up to Quantum Field Theory. However, the failure over several decades to provide a unified description of Electromagnetism and Gravitation or alternatively, Quantum Theory and General Relativity has finally lead researchers to abandon the differentiable spacetime manifold on which all of the above was based. In the most recent approaches we consider a spacetime that is discretized or is noncommutative. This immediately leads to corrections to the Special Theory of Relativity, more specifically to Lorentz Symmetry. It is quite significant that there are observational indicators, particularly in ultra high energy cosmic rays which suggest that such corrections are indeed there. We examine the whole issue in this paper.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2006

Are We Observing Violations of Lorentz Symmetry?

Recent observations of ultra high energy cosmic rays and gamma rays suggest that there are small violations of Lorentz symmetry. If there were no such violations, then the GZK cut off would hold and cosmic rays with energy $\sim 10^{20}eV$ or higher would not be reaching the earth. However some such events seem to have been observed. This has lead to phenomenological models in which there is a small violation of the Lorentz symmetry or the velocity of light. However recent Quantum Gravity and String Theory approaches which no longer consider a differentiable spacetime manifold already predict such violations. Similarly there are other theoretical reasons which also point to this. We briefly discuss the various possibilities.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2006

From Bosonic Strings to Fermions

Early string theory described Bosonic particles at the real life Compton scale. Later developments to include Fermions initiated by Ramond and others have lead through Quantum Super Strings to M-theory operating at the as yet experimentally unattainable Planck scale. We describe an alternative route from Bosonic Strings to Fermions, by directly invoking a non commutative geometry, an approach which is closer to experiment.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2005

Strings and Planck Oscillators

We contrast two theories which both start in one dimension at the Planck scale, viz., Quantum SuperString or M-Theory and a theory of Planck oscillations

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2005

Emergence of Spacetime

Starting from a background Zero Point Field (or Dark Energy) we show how an array of oscillators at the Planck scale leads to the formation of elementary particles and spacetime and also to a cosmology consistent with latest observations.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2005

The Hamilton-Jacobi Theory, Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity

The Hamilton-Jacobi theory of Classical Mechanics can be extended in a novel manner to systems which are fuzzy in the sense that they can be represented by wave functions. A constructive interference of the phases of the wave functions then gives us back Classical systems. In a suitable description this includes both Quantum Theory and General Relativity in the well known superspace formulation. However, there are several nuances which provide insight into these latter systems. All this is considered in this paper together with suitable generalization, to cascades of super universes.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2005

The Gauge Hierarchy Problem and Planck Oscillators

A longstanding question that has puzzled Physicists is the so called gauge hierarchy problem, that is why is there such a wide gap between the mass of a Planck particle, $10^{-5}gms$ and the mass of a typical elementary particle $\sim 10^{-25}gms$. We show that the answer to this problem lies in a particular characterization of gravitation. This moreover also provides a picture of a Planck scale underpinning for the entire universe itself.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2005

The Counterintuitive Universe

The major advances in physics have been through counterintuitive breakthroughs-- ideas that seemed to go against prevailing convictions. In the twentieth century the Special and General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics have provided very good examples of this process. However, twentieth century physics has led to an impasse, one of the most important unsolved problems being the unification of gravitation with other interactions. This has led to another sacred tenet of physics, viz., spacetime as a smooth manifold, being questioned in latest approaches, be it Quantum Super Strings or other Quantum Gravity and similar theories. In particular spacetime described by an underpinning of Planck scale oscillators is investigated.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2005

Fuzzy Spacetime Issues

We argue that the Path Integral formulation of Feynman can be reconciled via a Planck scale underpinning for spacetime, with fuzzy spacetime considerations.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2005

Fluctuational Spacetime

Newton's action at a distance gravitational law and Coulomb's action at a distance electrostatic law had to be reexamined in the light of field theories which originated from Maxwell's electrodynamics. These ideas were further modified with the advent of Quantum Theory, even though the differentiable spacetime manifold of Classical Physics was retained. More recent approaches in unifying gravitation with the other fundamental interactions has lead to a spacetime that is not smooth. In this light we examine the nature of spacetime, taking into consideration the role of fluctuations.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2005

Noncommutative spacetime effects and gravitation

In recent years Quantum Superstrings and Quantum Gravity approaches have come to rely on non differenciable spacetime manifolds. These throw up a noncommutative spacetime geometry and we consider the origin of mass and a related modification of the Dirac equation in this context. This also throws some light on gravitation itself.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2004

A New Integral Transform

Using Bauer's expansion and properties of spherical Bessel and Legender functions, we deduce a new transform and briefly indicate its use.

math.GM↗

arXiv2004

How Fundamental is Gravitation ?

Based on a Planck scale underpinning for the universe, we deduce an expression for the gravitational constant which exhibits it as a distributional effect over all the particles of the universe. This solves a long standing puzzle, the so called Weinberg formula which gives a microphysical parameter in terms of a cosmic parameter. This was also discussed on the basis of a cosmology that correctly predicted a dark energy driven accelerating universe - the linkage is now established.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2004

About Gravitation

We consider different deductions of the mysterious Weinberg formula and show that this leads us back to the model of fluctuational cosmology which correctly predicted in advance, dark energy driven, accelerating universe with a small cosmological constant. All this also provides us with an interpretation of Gravitation as the distributional effect of the residual energy of the universe.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2004

Gravitation as a weak electromagnetism and other issues

In the context of a Planck scale underpinning for the universe, we argue that both gravitation and electromagnetism can be characterized in a unified way, in a Sakharov like description. We also consider the issue of observed gamma radiation, which recent observations seem to indicate are caused by the annihilation of exotic $Mev$ particles, as indeed was theoretically predicted earlier. Some other problems are also considered.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2004

Fuzzy Spacetime: Further Considerations

We consider fuzzy spacetime, quanta of area and related concepts in the context of latest approaches to Quantum Gravity and show its interface with usual non-Abelian gauge theory. We also discuss in this context a cosmology which correctly predicted a dark energy driven acceleratling universe with a small cosmological constant, amongst other things.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2004

Some Consequences of Fuzzy Spacetime

In this paper we analyse the reasons which lead to a fuzzy spacetime approach. We then consider an experimental consequence, viz., a modified dispersion relation, which could be detected in ultra high energy cosmic rays, by for example NASA's GLAST Satellite scheduled to be launched in 2006. We also study the implications for the theory of non-Abelian Gauge Fields.

physics.gen-ph↗