This text proposes (as in previous works) that space is composed of photon holes (particles) mixed with ordinary quanta that make up a quantum foam. The attraction of photon holes (a component of quantum space) to matter is pictured as two negative radiation pressure entities attracting each other. Matter, therefore, accumulates the photon hole components of quantum space and space itself collapses when photon holes accumulate. An axiom is proposed that this accumulation (or greater density) of photon holes is equivalent to the curvature of space. Thus, the general theory of relativity can be viewed finally in a "quantum" context--quantum gravity. The force of electromagnetism can also be pictured as an imbalance (or greater density) of photon holes. Hence, gravity and electromagnetic forces can both be viewed as due to imbalances of photon holes at different frequencies. Thus, the photon hole is responsible for unification of both forces. Hence, both gravity waves and radiation are waves in space and, therefore, are identical. The electromagnetic field concept is converted to being largely a characteristic of space. The idea that matter is a compressed region of photon holes is also discussed. It might be understood that photon holes are be the dark matter, a characteristic of space itself. Absolute space, and the author's notions concerning time, are mentioned as they relate to the ideas proposed here. The probable consequences of this model are discussed.

Key Words: Gravity, GTR, Quantum Space, Quantum Foam, Photon Holes, Space Grid, Lines-Of-Force, Time, Gravity Waves, Unification, Quantum Gravity, Matter, Dark Matter

Introduction

This text is primarily a summary and an elaboration of the author's ideas about quantum space in combination with some recent conclusions about gravity. Since the author views the general theory of relativity (GTR) fundamentally as correct (although unfortunately somewhat incomplete), this text proposes a somewhat different picture of the general theory. GTR is combined with a quantum outlook of space. The cause of gravity is further discussed by this text as a supplement to previous work on gravity.

Newton's and Einstein's equations appear to tell us just about everything we need to know about the behavior of gravity. What is of interest in this text is: by what process does gravity do what it does? This problem is approached in this text from the point of view that space is composed of particles, more specifically, of "photon holes", subtractions from the quantum vacuum.

A qualitative unification of gravity with electromagnetic forces is also offered based upon space as being photon holes mixed with radiation. General relativity can finally be realized in a quantum context.

Gravity Summary

In the author's previous gravity text, matter is pictured essentially as a radiation void, or the absence of radiation pressure at long-wavelengths within a particle of matter. Matter, therefore, causes a disturbance of the vacuum radiation at long-wavelengths and this is in-essence what drives gravity.

How matter accomplishes the task of becoming (internally) a negative radiation pressure void (as described by the earlier gravity text), can be thought of in several different ways:

1) In the particle approach, long-wavelength photons may simply ignore (or are not allowed within) matter altogether, causing an absence of radiation pressure relatively speaking within all matter particles. Matter is a radiation void.

2) In the wave approach, incoming long-wavelength radiation may simply be canceled-out by precisely out-of-phase matter waves at identical wavelengths. This creates, again (as in # 1), a radiation void at long-wavelengths.

3) In the terminology of general relativity, the vacuum radiation might apply a stiff "pressure" from all directions to every matter particle. The surface areas of the particles in question may be an important factor in this approach. According to GTR (and Einstein's field equation), mass and pressure may give rise to gravitational fields (Thorne, 1994). It may be the case in this viewpoint that pressure is vitally important for gravity and the mass of a body fundamentally is not!

4) The proposition that is discussed subsequently in the text is that matter itself is composed of photon holes. Space is viewed as a mixture of photon holes with radiation. In this picture, it is surprising (but true) that it automatically follows that matter has gravity. In other works, a new theory of matter can be constructed strictly on this basis. See the "Matter As Photon Holes" text at the link below for further information about this idea.

Quantum Space And The Gravitational Field

In the author's other works (at the links below) concerning "Quantum Space", it is proposed that space is composed of photon holes produced by photon emission or by the stretching of space beyond its limits.

Space can be pictured (as seen in the image below) as negative energy photon holes essentially lining-up in a grid-like structure held roughly in-place by electromagnetic forces i.e., a negative pressure (also an important quality of space) between these holes. Photons arise when the photon hole grid is set into vibration by a charged particle. Photons are the quanta associated with the vibration of the space grid. The greatly enlarged image below is of two-cells of perhaps an infinite number in the Cosmos. See the "Space-Grid" text for more information at the link below.

As long as new photon holes are being fabricated approximately uniformly, each photon hole has primarily a repulsive force on other identical holes. Each hole is held roughly in its proper place on the "space-grid". The space-grid is essentially a composite structure of a mixture of ordinary fast moving vacuum quanta and somewhat stationary photon holes (as seen above); a quantum foam grid. Photons arise when the grid vibrates.

Each photon hole can (surprisingly) be thought of as equivalent to a piece of minute matter, hence, space itself has "weight". This picture of space grants a somewhat different view of dark matter. Dark matter must, therefore, be contained in all gravitational fields and be an integral aspect of space itself.

Lines of electric and magnetic forces exist as strings of photon holes, localized compression's of space at specific frequencies. Localized disturbances of the space-grid (perhaps by an accelerated electron or binary star system) set the lines of force (strings of photon holes) into oscillation, giving rise to electromagnetic waves (and photons), ripples in space itself. More about this subsequently.

All photon holes may have the same negative energy, a Planck derivative of - 4.14 X 10^-15 eV. This negative value was deduced based upon some of the reasoning contained in the "Photon Emission" text at the link below. Other values for photon holes may be possible as well, but we will focus in this text primarily upon the negative Planck value. Dark matter may have the same negative Planck value.

Since all holes (with some exceptions) may have this same negative value and approximately an identical density and distribution, an overall electromagnetic repulsive effect is maintained between the space foam quanta. However, when a piece of matter is introduced into this space-grid (quantum foam structure), the grid can become increasingly dense in close proximity to the matter. The photon holes are, thus, attracted to the radiation void created by the matter particles. Or, if matter is composed of the photon holes, the negative energy holes both in matter and in the space foam grid do attract each other.

To understand how this can happen, picture two low pressure systems in the Earth's atmosphere. The lows (as they near each other) begin to compete for the same air molecules, hence, they are drawn closer together (and often merge into one somewhat larger "low"). In the same fashion, photon holes and matter compete for the same photons between them, drawing the two entities (matter and space) closer together. These forces, therefore, must be necessarily electromagnetic in nature, the primary reason that space has electromagnetic qualities. The density of space, thus, becomes somewhat compressed in and around matter.

To connect the density of space particles with its curvature, the following axiom is put forth:

Axiom A: --The Increasing Density Of Photon Holes Within The Quantum Foam (A Compression OF Photon Holes) Is Equivalent To An Increasing Curvature Of Space. Hence, The Density Of Photon Holes Is Directly Proportional To The Curvature Of The Same Space. Photon Holes Cause The Space-Grid To Compress, Whereas Photons (As Vibrations Of The Grid) Cause It To Expand.

Axiom A comes about to equate the density (and compression) of photon holes in the space foam with the general theory of relativity's description of space-time curvature. As is consistent with the author's other works, radiation voids (photon holes by definition) are primarily minute curvatures of space and time.

It can be understood that the compression of space in Axiom A essentially transforms a meter-per-second velocity into a meter-per-second^2 acceleration! Hence, the compression's of space due to photon hole accumulations in the foam must be equivalent to curvatures and cause all linear motions through that space to become accelerations. This unites this viewpoint with GTR.

We can see in this text that the gravitational field itself is composed of a denser quantity of photon holes, each of which is itself a miniature (subatomic) curvature of space. When these minute subatomic curvatures are added together, they sum to an even larger overall curvature of the Universe. Thus, the very minute (quantum mechanical world) and very large effects of gravity (the domain of general relativity) merge and become unified by this approach.

Thus, the path of any object or radiation through the dense space-grid or foam (which becomes increasingly compressed surrounding matter), appears, from a local perspective, to be bent or warped. In a highly-uniform grid (for example, far from a gravitational field), there may be no apparent curvature of bodies or radiation through the grid.

Hence, in the space between the galaxies, the photons passing through when the grid vibrates tend to outnumber the less-dense photon holes in the space foam, and space itself tends to become repulsive. This is known as a positive Cosmological Constant, the in-built tendency for space itself to expand. More about this subject in the "Oscillating Universe" text at the link below.

Therefore, the grid without any vibrations will tend to collapse in on-itself--a gravitational collapse into a wormhole! But, when the photon hole grid vibrates, the grid will tend to expand. Furthermore, when the photon hole particles and photons (vibrations) in the space foam mix become completely uniformly distributed, there can be no apparent forces inward or outward. However, in the more generalized case in-which gravity is very prevalent, the density of photon holes in the space foam mix becomes vastly increased and space itself appears curved (as if a force were present).

Therefore, the density (or compression) of space becomes increased in and around matter. By and large, this is because matter and the photon holes in the space foam are attracted to each other. Space, thus, "clumps" or accumulates at greater densities in and around matter. This basically is due to an imbalance of the pressure and curvature of the quantum space foam. It may in-fact be that matter itself is a dense clump of these photon holes, a severe compression and an inward collapse of space. This idea is explored in greater detail in the "Matter As Photon Holes" text at the link below.

This attraction is a negative pressure electromagnetic attraction of two entities (matter and space) that each have a negative radiation pressure force associated with them. This attraction, similar to a positive radiation pressure force (from the Sun, for example), diminishes as the square of the distance between these two entities i.e., a light gets increasingly dimmer as the square of distance from one's eye. Therefore, the density of photon holes in the space foam mix must also diminish as the square of the distance from a piece of matter. Thus, the apparent "force" of gravity must also obey the same mathematical relationship. This agrees well with observations.

One can understand that since space has a negative overall energy and pressure value, and matter is largely the same (although a matter particle has a vastly greater negative pressure than that of a very minute particle of space), that both matter and space must always occur together. Matter, therefore, increases the density of photon holes (the negative pressure aspect of space) in the quantum foam; relative to ordinary quanta. Dense photon holes, thus, do attract other photon holes and this density tends to decrease as the square of distance from matter.

The "wagon-wheel"- like rotation of galaxies, where stars on the outer edges actually rotate faster (around the galactic center) than do the inner stars, might be explained by assuming that the center of the galaxy has very strong gravity and the surrounding space (quantum foam) grid is quite rigid. The dark matter in the gravitational fields within a typical galaxy, therefore, rotates in unison with other photon holes as a part of the grid, each held in its place by attractive electromagnetic forces.

Stars, even at the outer edges of a galaxy, simply follow the rigid space-grid around the strong gravity at the galactic core. The galaxy rotates similar to a wheel. As viewed from vast distances (with a source of light behind), this galactic space rigidity can be imaged as a gravitational "Einstein Ring" or a half-ring image surrounding a galaxy called a gravitational arc (Goldsmith, 2000). The effects of dark matter, therefore, can be imaged.

Space particles (photon holes) which have mass are, therefore, packed quite tightly together in most galaxies, despite the on-going fabrication of new space quanta by the emission of photons by galaxies and quantum vacuum effects. The accelerated expansion of the Cosmos now observed, can be explained as each galaxy fabricating its own new space and pushing the other galaxies farther away, thereby accelerating the expansion of the overall Universe. See the "Oscillating Universe" link below for more about this topic.

Matter creates essentially an imbalance in the pressure of the vacuum attracting a higher overall density of photon holes, which warps the space grid as described by general relativity. One can see now the relevance of Axiom A, a relationship between the density of photon holes with their associated curvatures. Hence, a curvature of space-time is actually a compressed accumulation of photon holes (in the space foam mix of photons and photon holes) surrounding pieces of matter. Photon holes can be seen to collapse and compress the grid, whereas photons expand it.

Gravity And Electromagnetic Forces

The primary difference between gravity and the electric and magnetic forces is that gravity is caused by the generalized increase of density of space particles around matter (as described above), whilst in the electric and magnetic fields, the force lines are essentially highly-dense "lined-up" strings of the same photon holes within the quantum foam. Outward from these lines, the space densities (hence, curvatures) diminish quite rapidly.

The relative weakness of gravity compared to electric and magnetic forces gives one an idea of how dense these strings of photon holes actually might be. Lines of force, thus, are wrapped tubes of space actually folded-over by the extreme densities of negative pressure space particles surrounding a magnet or emanating outward from an electron. Lines of force are compressed lines of photon holes radiating outward from a charged particle.

As described in the "Electricity And Magnetism" text, these forces (gravity, electricity and magnetism) all operate at quite different and distinct frequencies from each other. See the E and M link below. Gravity operates at long-wavelengths exclusively and for this reason functions independently of electric or magnetic interactions. However, all three forces fundamentally are effects of space (and matter) and, therefore, are linked by quantum space foam. In essence, both gravity and electromagnetism are imbalances of space particles.

When space particles in the space grid of photon holes are set into motion by a disturbance of space by matter, waves in space are created. These are electromagnetic waves, the movement of space particles that compose the grid. Photons are the quantum aspects of this vibration energy. These disturbances can be induced by the acceleration of a charged particle or by a gravitational disturbance called a "gravity wave" . It can be understood, therefore, that electromagnetic waves and gravity waves must be identical!

Gravity And Electromagnetic Unification

One of the primary tasks of physics are "unifications", methods of simplifying two or more concepts into one more widely encompassing system. Over time, physics may then become a more simplified enterprise as a result. J. C. Maxwell was one who envisioned that the two previously separate forces of electricity and magnetism could be seen as different aspects of a single force--electromagnetism. A new theory of light was born as a result of this unification.

More recently, electromagnetism could be found to be unified with the weak force, now called the electroweak force. Moreover, Newton saw that the forces on falling apples were the same as forces on the Moon overhead. He, thus, performed another type of unification, simplifying things overall. Progress in physics is often made through these unifications.

The author would like to propose another unification--gravity with electromagnetism. This is accomplished via quantum space, the common link between gravity and electromagnetic forces.

Physics has over time created these "mental scaffoldings" called the electromagnetic and gravitational fields. If one pictures space fundamentally as mobile particles, a frothing foam that is held in place (similar to a grid) by the negative radiation pressures of the vacuum, the forces of gravity and electromagnetic might be understood as one in the same.

As mentioned earlier, any disturbance of the space grid, comprised of photon holes held in place by negative electromagnetic pressure, is the primary cause of electromagnetic waves or ripples in space. Photons are the quantum aspects of these waves. This might be caused by the acceleration of charged particles (such as electrons) or by a binary star system (what physicists are now calling gravity waves).

Hence, it must be the case that gravity waves and radiation are completely identical! The movement of space, whether it be by planets, binary stars, supernovae or accelerated electrons creates electromagnetic ripples in space. The primary difference here lies in the wavelengths and frequencies of the waves. And, indeed, there is no shortage of radiation throughout space. Space is completely saturated with such radiation. However, where are all these gravity waves we keep hearing so much about? What about them?

Thus, the prediction is made that gravity waves will not be discovered (and this is absolutely true so far, after a number of years of searching by experimentalists). Gravity waves must be electromagnetic in nature, because space itself is electromagnetic, thus, the movement of space creates ripples in space--electromagnetic waves.

If matter is viewed as photon holes and so is space (although vastly less dense), it can be visualized how matter causes the space foam to oscillate. If matter and space are composed of photon holes and at an identical energy and frequency, it may be understood how the oscillation of one may electromagnetically effect the other. Therefore, this mental scaffolding of the electromagnetic field has been in-place for far too long! The electromagnetic field is in-essence space itself, a field of quantum foam, the most important element of which are the photon holes.

Hence, charged particles must be fundamental elements of matter that cause other identical elements in space (at the same energy and frequency) to move. Neutral particles may be composed of photon holes at different negative energies. What we see as the electromagnetic field are the electric and magnetic aspects of space itself. There can be no important distinction between space and the electromagnetic field--they are one in the same. The gravitational field is also space itself--which was one of Einstein's key realizations. Einstein was indeed correct about this!

Viewing space in this fashion, essentially unifies gravity and electromagnetic forces--the uniting particle being the essential space particle; the photon hole. This view is consistent with the author's previous work.

As would be required for unification, there must be an intimate relationship between the gravitational aspects of space with its electromagnetic qualities. To accomplish this, there are primarily only two variables at work--the differences in the frequencies (and energies) of operation of the two forces and the differences in the densities of quantum space associated with each force i.e., the densities of space particles (photon holes) in the lines of force are vastly greater than in most gravitational fields, except, perhaps, close to a black hole. The qualities of space, however, are responsible for the characteristics of both forces.

This concept not only unifies gravity and electromagnetism, but also offers a particular viewpoint concerning quantum gravity; the quantization of the gravitational field. That space is grainy i.e., composed of photon hole particles, and, furthermore, that gravity is an effect of the accumulation of these particles, makes this necessarily a quantum gravity model.

Since in this picture photon holes may be equivalent to matter and lines of force are pictured as strings of photon holes, does it follow that lines of force have their own gravitational attraction? This might be a consequence of this idea, although such an attraction must be very slight and, therefore, may be difficult to measure. Are lines of force affected by gravitational fields? The answer appears to be yes! Henceforth, any experiment demonstrating that strong gravitational fields have no effect upon force lines may disprove this model.

Absolute Space

The primary reason that there can be no absolute space is that through the movement of gravity waves and electromagnetic waves (which are identical), space particles (particularly the photons--the "expanders" of space) are inherently mobile. There can be no position or velocity of quantum space that can be said to be not moving, whilst everything else is. The quantum foam space-grid is frothing with energy and movement, particularly close to galaxies.

Moreover, space is continually being added to or subtracted from whenever photons are emitted or absorbed. Moreover, the quantum vacuum may be able to spontaneously generate both photons and photon holes, what the author calls "space foam". Hence, space is an absolutely dynamic system which is in constant flux; it could never be utilized as a frame of reference for light (and not moving). Hence, this picture of space foam is not similar at all to the so-called "aether"!

It is also the case that time and space cannot be absolute (by themselves), but space-time (as H. Minkowski demonstrated) is! Space-time is absolute in all reference frames--Hence, space-time is the best "medium" for light waves!

Time

While movement through space affects time, time was not mentioned in great detail in association with space by this text because the author has his own model (and ideas) concerning time.

In the author's viewpoint, time is based upon one's personal metabolic rate, which the author believes is affected by motion through space. So, space and time do affect each other and, therefore, must without a doubt be connected to each other--space-time, but the author has decided to give them each their own separate texts. See the "Time" text at the link below for further details about time and metabolic rate.

Conclusion

This model leads to the following probable consequences:

1) Matter attracts photon holes in the space foam mix because two negative pressures attract each other.

2) The density of space particles is equivalent to curvature. See Axiom A above.

3) Lines of force are strings of photon holes, dense compressed tubes of wrapped space creating a strong outward force. The density of the photon holes diminishes with distance from the force lines.

4) Lines of force may be affected by gravity; since photon holes may be equivalent to matter and force lines are viewed as strings of photon holes.

5) Gravity waves do not exist (and will not be discovered). Waves in space are electromagnetic waves because space itself is inherently electromagnetic.

6) There is no electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field is a quality "built-into" space itself--a grid-like structure of photon holes connected by electromagnetic forces. Gravity is a denser region of photon holes within the space foam surrounding matter. This view of space qualitatively unifies gravity and electromagnetism.

7) The space grid is in-essence a quantum foam, a frothing mixture of photon holes and grid vibrations; vacuum quanta held together by electromagnetic forces. Space is most turbulent near a galaxy.

8) Matter may be a denser region (or clump) of photon holes. Matter may be a defect or a compression of the space foam grid--a region of pure holes. See the above description for further details or see the link below; "Matter As Photon Holes".

Relevant Links

Previous Gravity Text: http://www.johnkharms.com/gravitation.htm

The Space-Grid: http://www.johnkharms.com/grid.htm

Matter As Photon Holes: http://www.johnkharms.com/matter.htm

Electricity And Magnetism: http://www.johnkharms.com/eandm.htm

Photon Emission: http://www.johnkharms.com/photon.htm

Time: http://www.johnkharms.com/time.htm

Other Quantum Space Texts:

1) Quantum Space (and the quantum vacuum): http://www.johnkharms.com/space.htm

2) The Oscillating Universe: http://www.johnkharms.com/oscillation.htm

References

Goldsmith, D., 2000, The Runaway Universe, Perseus Books, Cambridge, Massachusetts, P. 195

Thorne, K. S., 1994, Black Holes & Time Warps, W. W. Norton & Co., New York, P. 118

Reader's Note: Proper References And/Or Acknowledgments To This Text Are Appreciated.

(C) Copyright

X-Copyright: J. K. Harms, 2001