Questioning Quantized Inertia

in steemstem •  6 years ago  (edited)

Quantized Inertia is a theory in physics that could subplant the theory of dark matter and dark energy as well as unify gravity with quantum mechanics (a very bold assertion). It is the current popular theory de jure, much like how pilot-wave theory got popular on social media. It still has a long way to go before it becomes accidemically accepted, if ever.

The basics are as follows:

  • a) Classical Inertia is a property of matter. In order for matter to accelerate, it must overcome its inertia. In order for matter to decelerate, it must also overcome its inertia. This is why a train takes two or three miles to stop. The kinetic energy stored in the train must be translated somewhere else.
  • b) Quantized Inertia is theorized to result from acceleration (and declaration) which causes a subtle radiation differences between the direction of movement and a horizon. As an analogy, imagine a boat over water at high speeds where water behind you gets less wavy, as a function of relative motion in the water, and higher acceleration exaggerates this effect.

The connection between a) and b) requires some math that I don't understand.

Actually, some of this is intuitive. Quantized inertia asserts that there's a minimum and maximum acceleration. Physicists already accept the notion of a minimum length (planck length). So to me, it's intuitive that there would also be a minimum acceleration.

As for a maximum length, cosmologists might assert this is the size of the universe, or maybe the size of the visible universe. And this is also intuitive to Quantized inertia because part of the theory already incorporates the Hubble Constant (a component used to express the rate of apparent expansion of the universe relative to an observer).

Here's a recent video on the subject, so you can try to wrap your head around it:


With the above in mind, here's what I want to know. I've had some of these questions in a draft for a while and, as it turns out, are now possibly related to QI.

My Questions

  • What happens to a pair of virtual photons that form in space that is expanding faster than light? E.g.: one photon forms opposing the expansion, while the other forms with the expansion.
    • Turns out this is somewhat similar to the theoretical Rindler Horizon in inertial frames.
  • Can dark matter become a black hole? Since it only interacts gravitationally with ordinary matter, is it possible that the first “visible” indication of dark matter is x-rays from the accretion disk of a black hole? In fact, since most matter in the universe is supposed to be dark matter, wouldn’t that imply that most black holes are formed from dark matter? Update [2019-05-09]: No.
  • Does Quantized inertia also imply/predict a maximum acceleration? E.g., assume an object accelerates at a rate that brings the rindler horizon immediately behind the object, such that any additional acceleration would cause the rindler horison to "overtake" the object.
  • Does Quantized inertia explain the expansion of the universe? If the universe is small, but there's a lot of accelerating mass, thus a lot of inertial mass, could this translate to pressure for the universe to expand?
  • Is unruh radiation light?

Update: [2019-04-24] PBS Space Time has now weighed in on the debate.

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Apologies for the delayed answer. I am overbusy at the moment... :)

I don't buy quantum inertia at all, because it violates several pillars of modern physics in many ways (special relativity, general relativity, Noether theorem, Newton laws of motion), and those pillars have been heavily tested experimentally (and found correct). A little bit too much of basic physics violation to my taste :)

For more information, feel free to read this that is a very good article on the topic.

I will now answer the questions (or instead to ask questions about the questions), ignoring the QI part because I don't have time for that. Note that I am happy to work on speculative theories, but not when they violate many basic principles and are supposed to solve so many problems including non-problems.

What happens to a pair of virtual photons that form in space that is expanding faster than light? E.g.: one photon forms opposing the expansion, while the other forms with the expansion.

Virtual photons are not real. So nothing :)

Can dark matter become a black hole? Since it only interacts gravitationally with ordinary matter, is it possible that the first “visible” indication of dark matter is x-rays from the accretion disk of a black hole? In fact, since most matter in the universe is supposed to be dark matter, wouldn’t that imply that most black holes are formed from dark matter?

Black holes are candidate for dark matter. So they can be dark matter. However, dark matter can't for black holes as it is too diluted in space. In addition, it is good to note that black holes can absorb dark matter, as normal matter.

Is unruh radiation light?

Radiation is photon.

Ps: the pilot-wave theory does not violate basic physics, in contrast. It describes quantum mechanics slightly differently (in a way that cannot be falsified for now).

As near as I can tell, physicists worth their salt look at the math of QI and literally see flying saucers because QI asserts that gravitational mass is not equal to inertal mass.

I believe the only thing pilot-wave doesn’t explain very well is quantum teleportation.

Thus, its funny. There are two things Einstein said, mass equivalencies (against QI) and spooky action at a distance (for pilot-waves), that are both in play.

For this reason, I think Einstein would doubt QI and lean toward pilot-wave, not that they’re at odds with one another or anything.

As near as I can tell, physicists worth their salt look at the math of QI and literally see flying saucers because QI asserts that gravitational mass is not equal to inertal mass.

This is weird, as the equality of both masses is not a fact. There are many experiments trying to proof both masses are inequal. For now, they only have managed to demonstrate that the inequalities should lie at the 14th digit level, if any (see here for instance).

I believe the only thing pilot-wave doesn’t explain very well is quantum teleportation.

The pilot-wave interpretation relies on a non-vanishing potential at infinity. This consists in a very non-intuitive thing.

Somehow, it does not like the non-locality behind quantum mechanics, and get rid of it in a way closer to classical mechanics at the price of a potential,... that is non local. Therefore, all the non-intuitive aspects of quantum mechanics are still there. At the end, only data will tell us on which one (the quantum mechanics or pilot wave interpretation) is correct. For now, both agree and there is no way to disentangle them. If interested, I may try to free some time to write a full post about that (I discuss this topic in my book, but it is in French :p )

Thus, its funny. There are two things Einstein said, mass equivalencies (against QI) and spooky action at a distance (for pilot-waves), that are both in play.

The EPR paradox has been solved since them (cf. Bell inequalities) and there is no spooky action at distance (this is proved and well established). This contrasts with pilot wave interpretation that is neither proven correct or wrong.

Radiation is photon.

But alpha radiation is helium nuclei. Is it just a misnomer?

Hypothetical answers to questions 1-5 assuming QI is correct(my assumption):
1 The theory postulates that the maximum wavelength of virtual particles is the radius of the observable universe. These would be the lowest energy photons that can theoretically exist... and since their origin should be the same all photons produced aid in expanding the universe.
2 What Dark Matter? The absence of any kind of radiation from wholly unknown sources is worrying at best.
3 Yes, an exceptionally large 10^52 m/s^2
4 Back to 1. There is a minimum acceleration 6.7×10^-10 m/s^2 predicted here, this would explain not only the early and continued expansion of the universe but our inability to cool an atom down to absolute zero.
5 Yes. There is an experiment using a large EM field to turn electrons around a pin head. The extreme accelerations produced visible light, which are theorized to be direct evidence of unruh radiation. (This would also help explain the pioneer anomaly) https://arxiv.org/pdf/cond-mat/0510743.pdf

Another explanation for the nano-tip experiment is, when the electrons go over the tip, they approach a fraction of the speed of light. In this moment, an electron transitions to virtual photons. I might be using this diagram incorrectly, but basically:

Electrons approach the nano-tip and transition to virtual photons, but some cannot transition back to electrons because in order to "get there" some of these photons would have to exceed the speed of light. Some "break away" from their virtual pairs and are released as visible light.

Maybe this is flat wrong. Or maybe I'm describing the exact same phenomenon, just more sloppy.

This reminds me of bremsstrahlung radiation. Which if we are trying to redraw quantum mechanics as only allowable wavelengths between apparent horizons would be part of this process as well. This concept has been answering a lot of questions... and also convinces me even further we live inside a computer simulation. The interaction between two holographic membranes as a calculation.

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  ·  6 years ago Reveal Comment