arXiv subjects

M. E. McCulloch

Publications and source records attributed to M. E. McCulloch.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Testing Newton/GR, MoND and quantised inertia on wide binaries

Wide binary stars are within the low-acceleration regime in which galactic rotation curves deviate from Newtonian or general relativistic predictions. It has recently been observed that their rotation rates are similarly anomalous in a way that dark matter cannot explain, since it must be smooth on these small scales to fit galaxy rotation curves. Here, it is shown that Newtonian/GR models cannot predict these wide binaries since dark matter cannot be applied. It is also shown that MoND cannot predict these systems. However, a model which assumes that inertia is due to Unruh radiation made inhomogeneous in space by relativistic horizons (QI, quantised inertia) can predict these wide binaries, and it has the advantage of not needing an adjustable parameter.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2017

Galaxy rotations from quantised inertia and visible matter only

It is shown here that a model for inertial mass, called quantised inertia, or MiHsC (Modified inertia by a Hubble-scale Casimir effect) predicts the rotational acceleration of the 153 good quality galaxies in the SPARC dataset (2016 AJ 152 157), with a large range of scales and mass, from just their visible baryonic matter, the speed of light and the co-moving diameter of the observable universe. No dark matter is needed. The performance of quantised inertia is comparable to that of MoND, yet it needs no adjustable parameter. As a further critical test, quantised inertia uniquely predicts a specific increase in the galaxy rotation anomaly at higher redshifts. This test is now becoming possible and new data shows that galaxy rotational accelerations do increase with redshift in the predicted manner, at least up to Z=2.2.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2017

Low-acceleration dwarf galaxies as tests of quantised inertia

Dwarf satellite galaxies of the Milky Way appear to be gravitationally bound, but their stars' orbital motion seems too fast to allow this given their visible mass. This is akin to the larger-scale galaxy rotation problem. In this paper, a modification of inertia called quantised inertia or MiHsC (Modified inertia due to a Hubble-scale Casimir effect) which correctly predicts larger galaxy rotations without dark matter is tested on eleven dwarf satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, for which mass and velocity data are available. Quantised inertia slightly outperforms MoND (Modified Newtonian Dynamics) in predicting the velocity dispersion of these systems, and has the fundamental advantage over MoND that it does not need an adjustable parameter.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2016

Quantised inertia from relativity and the uncertainty principle

It is shown here that if we assume that what is conserved in nature is not simply mass-energy, but rather mass-energy plus the energy uncertainty of the uncertainty principle, and if we also assume that position uncertainty is reduced by the formation of relativistic horizons, then the resulting increase of energy uncertainty is close to that needed for a new model for inertial mass (MiHsC, quantised inertia) which has been shown to predict galaxy rotation without dark matter and cosmic acceleration without dark energy. The same principle can also be used to model the inverse square law of gravity, and predicts the mass of the electron.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2016

Testing quantised inertia on the emdrive

It has been shown that truncated cone-shaped cavities with microwaves resonating within them move slightly towards their narrow ends (the emdrive). Standard physics has no explanation for this and an error has not yet been found. It is shown here that this effect can be predicted by assuming that the inertial mass of the photons in the cavity is caused by Unruh radiation, whose wavelengths must fit exactly within the cavity, using a theory already applied successfully to astrophysical anomalies such as galaxy rotation where the Unruh waves have to fit within the Hubble scale. In the emdrive this means that more Unruh waves are allowed at the wide end, leading to a greater inertial mass for the photons there, and to conserve momentum the cavity must move towards its narrow end, as observed. The model predicts thrusts of: 3.8, 149, 7.3, 0.23, 0.57, 0.11, 0.64 and 0.02 mN compared with the observed thrusts of: 16, 147, 9, 0.09, 0.05, 0.06, 0.03, and 0.02 mN and predicts that if the axial length is equal to the diameter of the small end of the cavity, the thrust should be reversed.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2013

Inertia from an asymmetric Casimir effect

The property of inertia has never been fully explained. A model for inertia (MiHsC or quantised inertia) has been suggested that assumes that 1) inertia is due to Unruh radiation and 2) this radiation is subject to a Hubble-scale Casimir effect. This model has no adjustable parameters and predicts the cosmic acceleration, and galaxy rotation without dark matter, suggesting that Unruh radiation indeed causes inertia, but the exact mechanism by which it does this has not been specified. The mechanism suggested here is that when an object accelerates, for example to the right, a dynamical (Rindler) event horizon forms to its left, reducing the Unruh radiation on that side by a Rindler-scale Casimir effect whereas the radiation on the other side is only slightly reduced by a Hubble-scale Casimir effect. This produces an imbalance in the radiation pressure on the object, and a net force that always opposes acceleration, like inertia. A formula for inertia is derived, and an experimental test is suggested.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2012

Testing quantised inertia on galactic scales

Galaxies and galaxy clusters have rotational velocities apparently too fast to allow them to be gravitationally bound by their visible matter. This has been attributed to the presence of invisible (dark) matter, but so far this has not been directly detected. Here, it is shown that a new model that modifies inertial mass by assuming it is caused by Unruh radiation, which is subject to a Hubble-scale (Theta) Casimir effect predicts the rotational velocity (v) to be: v^4=2GMc^2/Theta (the Tully-Fisher relation) where G is the gravitational constant, M is the baryonic mass and c is the speed of light. The model predicts the outer rotational velocity of dwarf and disk galaxies, and galaxy clusters, within error bars, without dark matter or adjustable parameters, and makes a prediction that local accelerations should remain above 2c^2/Theta at a galaxy's edge.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2011

Can the Podkletnov effect be explained by quantised inertia?

The Podkletnov effect is an unexplained loss of weight of between 0.05% and 0.07% detected in test masses suspended above supercooled levitating superconducting discs exposed to AC magnetic fields. A larger weight loss of up to 0.5% was seen over a disc spun at 5000 rpm. The effect has so far been observed in only one laboratory. Here, a new model for inertia that assumes that inertial mass is caused by Unruh radiation which is subject to a Hubble-scale Casimir effect (called MiHsC or quantised inertia) is applied to this anomaly. When the disc is exposed to the AC magnetic field it vibrates (accelerates), and MiHsC then predicts that the inertial mass of the nearby test mass increases, so that to conserve momentum it must accelerate upwards against freefall by 0.0029 m/s^2 or 0.03% of g, about half of the weight loss observed. With disc rotation, MiHsC predicts an additional weight loss, but 28 times smaller than the rotational effect observed. MiHsC suggests that the effect should increase with disc radius and rotation rate, the AC magnetic field strength (as observed), and also with increasing latitude and for lighter discs.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2011

The Tajmar effect from quantised inertia

The Tajmar anomaly is an unexplained acceleration observed by gyroscopes close to, but isolated from, rotating rings cooled to 5K. The observed ratio between the gyroscope and ring accelerations was 3+/-1.2*10^-8 for clockwise rotations and about half this size for anticlockwise ones. Here, this anomaly is predicted using a new model that assumes that the inertial mass of the gyroscope is caused by Unruh radiation that appears as the ring and the fixed stars accelerate relative to it, and that this radiation is subject to a Hubble-scale Casimir effect. The model predicts that the sudden acceleration of the ring causes a slight increase in the inertial mass of the gyroscope, and, to conserve momentum the gyroscope must move with the ring with an acceleration ratio of 2.67+/-0.24*10^-8 for clockwise rotations and 1.34+/-0.12*10^-8 for anticlockwise ones, in agreement with the observations. The model predicts that in the southern hemisphere the anomaly should be larger for anticlockwise rotations instead, and that with a significant reduction of the mass of the disc, the decay of the effect with vertical distance should become measurable.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Minimum accelerations from quantised inertia

It has recently been observed that there are no disc galaxies with masses less than 10^9 M_solar and this cutoff has not been explained. It is shown here that this minimum mass can be predicted using a model that assumes that 1) inertia is due to Unruh radiation, and 2) this radiation is subject to a Hubble-scale Casimir effect. The model predicts that as the acceleration of an object decreases, its inertial mass eventually decreases even faster stabilising the acceleration at a minimum value, which is close to the observed cosmic acceleration. When applied to rotating disc galaxies the same model predicts that they have a minimum rotational acceleration, ie: a minimum apparent mass of 1.1x10^9 M_solar, close to the observed minimum mass. The Hubble mass can also be predicted. It is suggested that assumption 1 above could be tested using a cyclotron to accelerate particles until the Unruh radiation they see is short enough to be supplemented by manmade radiation. The increase in inertia may be detectable.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Can the Tajmar effect be explained using a modification of inertia?

The Tajmar effect is an unexplained acceleration observed by accelerometers and laser gyroscopes close to rotating supercooled rings. The observed ratio between the gyroscope and ring accelerations was 3+/-1.2x10^-8. Here, a new model for inertia which has been tested quite successfully on the Pioneer and flyby anomalies is applied to this problem. The model assumes that the inertia of the gyroscope is caused by Unruh radiation that appears as the ring and the fixed stars accelerate relative to it, and that this radiation is subject to a Hubble-scale Casimir effect. The model predicts that the sudden acceleration of the nearby ring causes a slight increase in the inertial mass of the gyroscope, and, to conserve momentum in the reference frame of the spinning Earth, the gyroscope rotates clockwise with an acceleration ratio of 1.8+/-0.25x10^-8 in agreement with the observed ratio. However, this model does not explain the parity violation seen in some of the gyroscope data. To test these ideas the Tajmar experiment (setup B) could be exactly reproduced in the southern hemisphere, since the model predicts that the anomalous acceleration should then be anticlockwise.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

Modelling the flyby anomalies using a modification of inertia

The flyby anomalies are unexplained velocity jumps of 3.9, -4.6, 13.5, -2, 1.8 and 0.02 mm/s observed near closest approach during the Earth flybys of six spacecraft. These flybys are modelled here using a theory that assumes that inertia is due to a form of Unruh radiation, and varies with acceleration due to a Hubble-scale Casimir effect. Considering the acceleration of the craft relative to every particle of the rotating Earth, the theory predicts that there is a slight reduction in inertial mass with increasing latitude for an unbound craft, since near the pole it sees a lower average relative acceleration. Applying this theory to the in- and out-bound flyby paths, with conservation of momentum, the predicted anomalies were 2.9, -0.9, 20.1, 0.9, 3.2 and -1.3 mm/s. Three of the flyby anomalies were reproduced within error bars, and the theory explains their recently-observed dependence on the latitude difference between their incident and exit trajectories. The errors for the other three flybys were between 1 and 3 mm/s.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Can the flyby anomalies be explained by a modification of inertia?

The flyby anomalies are unexplained velocity increases of 3.9, 13.5, 0.1 and 1.8 mm/s observed near closest approach during the Earth flybys of the Galileo, NEAR, Cassini and Rosetta spacecraft. Here, these flybys are modelled using a theory that assumes that inertia is caused by a form of Unruh radiation, modified by a Hubble-scale Casimir effect. This theory predicts that when the craft's accelerations relative to the galactic centre approached zero near closest approach, their inertial masses reduced for about 10^-7 s causing Earthward jumps of 2.6, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.9 mm/s respectively, and, to conserve angular momentum, increases in orbital velocity of a few mm/s that, except NEAR's, were quite close to those observed. However, these results were extremely sensitive to the Hubble constant used. As an experimental test of these ideas, it is proposed that metamaterials could be used to bend Unruh radiation around objects, possibly reducing their inertial mass.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Modelling the Pioneer anomaly as modified inertia

This paper proposes an explanation for the Pioneer anomaly: an unexplained Sunward acceleration of 8.74 +/- 1.33 x 10^-10 m s^-2 seen in the behaviour of the Pioneer probes. Two hypotheses are made: (1) Inertia is a reaction to Unruh radiation and (2) this reaction is weaker for low accelerations because some wavelengths in the Unruh spectrum do not fit within a limiting scale (twice the Hubble distance) and are disallowed: a process similar to the Casimir effect. When these ideas are used to model the Pioneer crafts' trajectories there is a slight reduction in their inertial mass, causing an anomalous Sunward acceleration of 6.9 +/- 3.5 x 10^-10 m s^-2 which agrees within error bars with the observed Pioneer anomaly beyond 10 AU from the Sun. This new scheme is appealingly simple and does not require adjustable parameters. However, it also predicts an anomaly within 10 AU of the Sun, which has not been observed. Various observational tests for the idea are proposed.

astro-ph↗