There is a common statement both in scientific publications and popular literature dealing with General Relativity (GR) that geometrical description of gravity is the only logically consistent generalization of the Newtonian classical theory of gravitation. However, a reader, non-aligned to general relativity may put a natural question why it is impossible to consider gravitation in the same way as other physical interactions, i.e. as a quantum field in flat space-time background.
Indeed, such a field approach to gravity has been discussed in the literature and known since the works of Poincar´e in 1905-1906 on the special theory of relativity. The Field Theory of Gravitation (FTG) was considered in classical works of Birkhoff, Moshinsky, Thirring, Kalman, Feynman, Weinberg, and Deser. The history of FTG is full of misleading claims and it demonstrates the hard way of creation and development of scientific ideas.
Mentz114 said:Hi Altabeh,
the most recent one I've got is attached. There are references within. Work in this area is discouraging because one always ends up with the same field equations as GR. Some people think there is no difference in the predictions made by field theory gravity and GR, but some disagree.
For the casual reader here is a quote from the introduction
The Minkowski spacetime is a mathematical model that describes the four-dimensional structure of the physical universe, incorporating both space and time. It is used in the theory of general relativity to understand the effects of gravity on objects in motion.
Unlike traditional Euclidean space, the Minkowski spacetime includes a fourth dimension of time, which is necessary for understanding the effects of gravity. It also uses a different measurement system, known as the Minkowski metric, to account for the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects.
Gravity causes objects with mass to warp the fabric of the Minkowski spacetime, creating a curvature that affects the paths of objects in motion. The strength of gravity is determined by the mass and distance of the objects involved, and can be described mathematically using Einstein's field equations.
No, the Minkowski spacetime cannot be directly visualized or experienced in everyday life as it exists on a higher-dimensional scale. However, its effects can be observed and measured through experiments and observations, proving its existence and importance in understanding the universe.
The concept of spacetime curvature, introduced by Einstein's theory of general relativity, revolutionized our understanding of gravity. It explains how massive objects not only attract each other, but also affect the fabric of spacetime, causing the curvature that influences the motion of all objects in that region. This concept has been proven by various astronomical observations and has greatly advanced our understanding of the universe.