Exploring General Theory of Relativity

In summary, the conversation discusses the possibility of obtaining accurate results of the general theory of relativity without using the concept of four-dimensional curved space. It is mentioned that GR relies on Riemannian spacetime and that matter can deform measuring devices in this theory. The concept of "Field Theory Gravity" is also brought up, which models gravity as a tensor field in Minkowski space and is believed to be equivalent to GR but with some disputes in the high-energy regime.
  • #1
sharma_satdev
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is it possible to get accurate results of general theory of relativity without retaining the concept of four dimensional curved space
 
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  • #2
sharma_satdev said:
is it possible to get accurate results of general theory of relativity without retaining the concept of four dimensional curved space

GR makes use of Riemannian spacetime and without it, no one is able to obtain Einstein field equations!

AB
 
  • #3
"Black holes and time warps: Einstein's outrageous legacy" mentions a version of GR that's equivalent to standard GR (in the sense that it makes the same predictions about experiments), but describes spacetime as flat. In this theory, matter doesn't curve spacetime, it deforms measuring devices.

I also think that one of the early attempts at a quantum (field) theory of gravity could accurately reproduce the predictions of GR. (Split the metric into a flat part plus the deviation from flatness, g=η+h, quantize only h, and throw away all Feynman diagrams that contain loops).
 
  • #4
'Field Theory Gravity' models gravity as a tensor field in Minkowski space. There's a good discussion by Y. Baryshev in arXiv:gr-qc/9912003 v1 (1 Dec 1999). It is generally believed that FTG is identical to GR but Baryshev disputes this and claims they make different predictions in the high-energy regime.
 

Related to Exploring General Theory of Relativity

1. What is the General Theory of Relativity?

The General Theory of Relativity is a scientific theory developed by Albert Einstein in 1915 that describes the relationship between gravity and the curvature of spacetime. It is a more complete and accurate description of gravity than Isaac Newton's theory of gravity.

2. How does the General Theory of Relativity differ from Newton's theory of gravity?

Newton's theory of gravity is based on the idea that gravity is a force between two objects, while the General Theory of Relativity explains gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass and energy. Additionally, the General Theory of Relativity accounts for the effects of high speeds and strong gravitational fields, while Newton's theory only applies to low speeds and weak gravitational fields.

3. What is the significance of the General Theory of Relativity?

The General Theory of Relativity is considered one of the most important scientific theories of all time as it revolutionized our understanding of gravity and led to new discoveries and advancements in physics. It also has practical applications, such as in the development of GPS technology.

4. How has the General Theory of Relativity been proven?

The General Theory of Relativity has been confirmed through various experiments and observations, including the bending of starlight by the sun's gravity, the precession of Mercury's orbit, and the gravitational redshift. It has also been successfully used to make predictions, such as the existence of gravitational waves.

5. Can the General Theory of Relativity be unified with other theories?

There have been efforts to unify the General Theory of Relativity with other fundamental theories, such as quantum mechanics, in order to create a theory of everything. However, this has not yet been achieved and remains an area of ongoing research and debate among scientists.

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