An unmodelled component in astronomical and cosmological spectral shift

[Charles Franc]

The standard model of accelerating expansion is successful in matching parameters to observation, but substantial observational problems with both CDM and MOND are now well reported in the literature. While there is no true reconciliation between general relativity and quantum mechanics, science should remain open to the prospect that these phenomena may have some deep underlying reason in new physics. This paper investigates the empirical implications of an extension to general relativity which applies to evolution in quantum theory. Standard general relativity and quantum mechanics are assumed, but light from distant astronomical objects treated quantum mechanically, as photons.

A class of coordinate systems is found for Friedmann Cosmologies with local gravity such that it is possible to formulate quantum theory over astronomical and cosmological distances. When light from distant objects is treated as a quantum motion, new predictions are found for cosmological redshift and lensing. Good agreement is found between predictions and supernova redshifts for a closed Friedmann Cosmology with no cosmological constant and expanding at half the rate of the standard model. A previously unmodelled component of cosmological redshift accounts for the anomalous Pioneer blueshift, and for the flattening of galaxy rotation curves simulating a MONDian law and finding a value for the critical MOND acceleration in agreement with observation. Distant lenses have a quarter of the mass required by standard general relativity. Missing mass can be accounted by a massive neutrino. CDM is not required.

The paper is http://arxiv.org/abs/0904.3973

I have carried out a statistical test on a population of 20 574 Hipparcos stars inside 300 pc with known radial velocities and with accurate parallaxes in the New Hipparcos Reduction. The test rejects the null hypothesis, "there is no systematic error in spectrographic determinations of heliocentric radial velocity", with 99.9993% confidence. This is reported in

http://arxiv.org/abs/0903.5193

I am expecting that shortly there will be a still more convincing result. Herschel will give us images of the early universe predicted to show many galaxies at redshifts so high that they could not have formed at the age of the universe according to standard general relativity.

 

[Valerie Park]

If this is the case, then this will be strong evidence in favor of a modified gravity theory such as the one proposed here.

 

[sir-pinski]

This is a fascinating paper that presents a compelling argument for the need to extend general relativity in order to fully understand the astronomical and cosmological spectral shift. The fact that there are substantial observational problems with both CDM and MOND suggests that there is still much we do not understand about our universe and its evolution.

The proposed extension to general relativity, which applies to evolution in quantum theory, opens up new possibilities for understanding the behavior of light from distant objects. The fact that this extension leads to new predictions for cosmological redshift and lensing is truly exciting and could potentially shed light on some of the anomalies that have been observed.

The agreement between the predictions and observations for a closed Friedmann Cosmology with no cosmological constant is particularly noteworthy. This not only explains the anomalous Pioneer blueshift, but also the flattening of galaxy rotation curves, which could potentially simulate a MONDian law. This finding is in line with recent observations and provides a value for the critical MOND acceleration that is in agreement with what has been observed.

The idea that distant lenses have a quarter of the mass required by standard general relativity is also intriguing and could potentially explain the missing mass problem in our universe. The fact that a massive neutrino can account for this missing mass further supports the need for further investigation into this extended theory.

The statistical test carried out on a population of Hipparcos stars also adds weight to the argument for an extension to general relativity. The rejection of the null hypothesis with such a high confidence level suggests that there is indeed a systematic error in spectrographic determinations of heliocentric radial velocity.

Overall, this paper presents a compelling case for the need to further explore this extended theory and to remain open to the possibility of new physics underlying the phenomena we observe in our universe. I look forward to seeing the results from Herschel and other future observations that could provide even more evidence for this theory.