Equations of motion for the mass centers in a scalar theory of gravitation

A scalar theory of gravitation with a preferred reference frame (PRF) is considered, that accounts for special relativity and reduces to it if the gravitational field cancels. The gravitating system consists of a finite number of perfect-fluid bodies. An " asymptotic " post-Newtonian (PN) approximation scheme is used, allowing an explicit weak-field limit with all fields expanded. Exact mass centers are defined and their exact equations of motion are derived. The PN expansion of these equations is obtained: the zero-order equations are those of Newtonian gravity (NG), and the equations for the first-order (PN) corrections depend linearly on the PN fields. For PN corrections to the motion of the mass centers, especially in the solar system, one may assume " very-well-separated " rigidly moving bodies with spherical self-fields of the zero-order approximation. The PN corrections reduce then to a time integration and include spin effects, which might be significant. It is shown that the Newtonian masses are not correct zero-order masses for the PN calculations. An algorithm is proposed, in order to minimize the residual and to assess the velocity in the PRF.Comment: Post-Script, 32 page

Comparison between two methods of post-Newtonian expansion for the motion in a weak Schwarzschild field

The asymptotic method of post-Newtonian (PN) expansion for weak gravitational fields, recently developed, is compared with the standard method of PN expansion, in the particular case of a massive test particle moving along a geodesic line of a weak Schwarzschild field. First, the expression of the active mass in Schwarzschild's solution is given for a barotropic perfect fluid, both for general relativity (GR) and for an alternative, scalar theory. The principle of the asymptotic method is then recalled and the PN expansion of the active mass is derived. The PN correction to the active mass is made of the Newtonian elastic energy, augmented, for the scalar theory, by a term due to the self-reinforcement of the gravitational field. Third, two equations, both correct to first order, are derived for the geodesic motion of a mass particle: a "standard" one and an "asymptotic" one. Finally, the difference between the solutions of these two equations is numerically investigated in the case of Mercury. The asymptotic solution deviates from the standard one like the square of the time elapsed since the initial time. This is due to a practical shortcoming of the asymptotic method, which is shown to disappear if one reinitializes the asymptotic problem often enough. Thus, both methods are equivalent in the case investigated. In a general case, the asymptotic method seems more natural.Comment: PostScript, 12 pages, 3 figures in 2 additional PS files. Accepted for publication in Nuovo Cimento B. V3: a few typos in V2, plus one sentence (p.10), corrected. V2: the cure outlined in V1, to remedy a numerical shortcoming of the asymptotic method, has been implemented. Result: in the investigated case of a test particle in a weak Schwarzschild field, the standard and asymptotic methods of PN expansion are definitely equivalent, also numericall

Gravity as Archimedes' thrust and a bifurcation in that theory

Euler's interpretation of Newton's gravity (NG) as Archimedes' thrust in a fluid ether is presented in some detail. Then a semi-heuristic mechanism for gravity, close to Euler's, is recalled and compared with the latter. None of these two "gravitational ethers" can obey classical mechanics. This is logical since the ether defines the very reference frame, in which mechanics is defined. This concept is used to build a scalar theory of gravity: NG corresponds to an incompressible ether, a compressible ether leads to gravitational waves. In the Lorentz-Poincar\'e version, special relativity is compatible with the ether, but, with the heterogeneous ether of gravity, it applies only locally. A correspondence between metrical effects of uniform motion and gravitation is assumed, yet in two possible versions (one is new). Dynamics is based on a (non-trivial) extension of Newton's second law. The observational status for the theory with the older version of the correspondence is summarized.Comment: 24 pages, invited contribution to the Franco Selleri Festschrift, to appear in Found. Physics. v3: Endnote 45 on absolute simultaneity improved (formerly footnote 6: class file changed to revtex4), a few references updated (and now with titles). v2: minor correction in subsect. 3.2, some wording improvements, and a few references adde

Scalar ether theory of gravity: a modification that seems needed

The construction of the scalar theory based on the concept of gravity as Archimedes' thrust is briefly summarized, emphasizing the two (extreme) possibilities that result from this concept for the gravitational rod contraction: it can either occur in only one direction, or be isotropic. A modified equation for the scalar field is stated for the new, isotropic case. The reasons to consider this case are: i) it is almost as natural as the other case, and ii) it should avoid the violation of the weak equivalence principle, found for a small extended body with the directional contraction. The dynamical equation stays unchanged.Comment: LaTeX, 7 pages. Summary of a talk to be given at the IXth Conference "Physical Interpretations of Relativity Theory" (London, 3--6 September 2004). This text will be published in the Proceedings (M. C. Duffy, ed.). v2: Redactional improvements in Sects. 3 (Dynamics) and 5 (Modified Equations), a new result announced in Sect. 5, a few references updated or adde

On reference frames and the definition of space in a general spacetime

First, we review local concepts defined previously. A (local) reference frame $\mathrm{F}$ can be defined as an equivalence class of admissible spacetime charts (coordinate systems) having a common domain $\mathrm{U}$ and exchanging by a spatial coordinate change. The associated (local) physical space is made of the world lines having constant space coordinates in any chart of the class. Second, we introduce new, global concepts. The data of a non-vanishing global vector field $\,v\,$ defines a global "reference fluid". The associated global physical space is made of the maximal integral curves of that vector field. Assume that, in any of the charts which make some reference frame $\mathrm{F}$: (i) any of those integral curves $l$ has constant space coordinates $x^j$, and (ii) the mapping $l\mapsto (x^j)$ is one-to-one. In that case, the local space can be identified with a part (an open subset) of the global space.Comment: 10 pages. Text of a talk given at the Third International Conference on Theoretical Physics "Theoretical Physics and its Applications", Moscow, June 24-28, 201

Some remarks on quantum mechanics in a curved spacetime, especially for a Dirac particle

Some precisions are given about the definition of the Hamiltonian operator H and its transformation properties, for a linear wave equation in a general spacetime. In the presence of time-dependent unitary gauge transformations, H as an operator depends on the gauge choice. The other observables of QM and their rates also become gauge-dependent unless a proper account for the gauge choice is done in their definition. We show the explicit effect of these non-uniqueness issues in the case of the Dirac equation in a general spacetime with the Schwinger gauge. We show also in detail why, the meaning of the energy in QM being inherited from classical Hamiltonian mechanics, the energy operator and its mean values ought to be well defined in a general spacetime.Comment: 25 pages, conforms exactly with the published version. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1312.670

Gravitational effects on light rays and binary pulsar energy loss in a scalar theory of gravity

A scalar bimetric theory of gravity with a preferred reference frame is summarized. Dynamics is governed by an extension of Newton's second law. In the static case, geodesic motion is recovered together with Newton's attraction field. In the static spherical case, Schwarzschild's metric is found. Asymptotic schemes of post-Newtonian (PN) and post-Minkowskian (PM) approximation are built, each based on associating a conceptual family of systems with the given system. At the 1PN approximation, there is no preferred-frame effect for photons, hence the standard predictions of GR for photons are got. At the 0PM approximation, an isolated system loses energy by quadrupole radiation, without any monopole or dipole term. Inserting this loss into the Newtonian 2-body problem gives the Peters-Mathews coefficients of the theory.Comment: LaTeX, 26 pages, no figure. Accepted for publication in Theor. Math. Phys. (Teor. Mat. Fiz.

On the Hamiltonian and energy operators in a curved spacetime, especially for a Dirac particle

The definition of the Hamiltonian operator H for a general wave equa-tion in a general spacetime is discussed. We recall that H depends on the coordinate system merely through the corresponding reference frame. When the wave equation involves a gauge choice and the gauge change is time-dependent, H as an operator depends on the gauge choice. This dependence extends to the energy operator E, which is the Hermitian part of H. We distinguish between this ambiguity issue of E and the one that occurs due to a mere change of the "represen-tation" (e.g. transforming the Dirac wave function from the "Dirac representation" to a "Foldy-Wouthuysen representation"). We also assert that the energy operator ought to be well defined in a given ref-erence frame at a given time, e.g. by comparing the situation for this operator with the main features of the energy for a classical Hamilto-nian particle.Comment: Text of a talk given at the DICE2014 Workshop (Castiglioncello (Livorno), Italy). Submitted to the Proceedings (H.T. Elze et al., eds.). in Seventh International Workshop DICE2014: Spacetime - Matter - Quantum Mechanics, Sep 2014, Castiglioncello (Provincia di Livorno), Ital

Accelerated Expansion as Predicted by an Ether Theory of Gravitation

Cosmology is investigated within a new, scalar theory of gravitation, which is a preferred-frame bimetric theory with flat background metric. Before coming to cosmology, the motivation for an " ether theory " is exposed at length; the investigated concept of ether is presented: it is a compressible fluid, and gravity is seen as Archimedes' thrust due to the pressure gradient in that fluid. The construction of the theory is explained and the current status of the experimental confrontation is analysed, both in some detail. An analytical cosmological solution is obtained for a general form of the energy-momentum tensor. According to that theory, expansion is necessarily accelerated, both by vacuum and even by matter. In one case, the theory predicts expansion, the density increasing without limit as time goes back to infinity. High density is thus obtained in the past, without a big-bang singularity. In the other case, the Universe follows a sequence of (non-identical) contraction-expansion cycles, each with finite maximum energy density; the current expansion phase will end by infinite dilution in some six billions of years. The density ratio of the present cycle (ratio of the maximum to current densities) is not determined by the current density and the current Hubble constant H0, unless a special assumption is made. Since cosmological redshifts approaching z = 4 are observed, the density ratio should be at least 100. From this and the estimate of H0, the time spent since the maximum density is constrained to be larger than several hundreds of billions of years. Yet if a high density ratio, compatible with the standard explanation for the light elements and the 2.7 K radiation, is assumed, then the age of the Universe is much larger still.Comment: 32 pages, Post-Script. v4 : Section 2 (general presentation of the theory and its motivation) still reinforced, Subsection 5.3 added (Comments on accelerated expansion and infinite dilution). To appear in "Physics Essays", Vol. 14, No. 1, 200