Look for a system where the predictions of GR contradict, or at least interact with, the predictions of QM. If there is no such system, then the contradictions are more metaphysical than empirical.
I’ve wondered for a while if the gravitational anomalies ascribed to dark matter/energy could be the result of linear frame dragging through the quantum fields. The basic idea is:
1) QM says there’s a lot of “zero-point energy” surrounding us in every direction related to the quantum fields.
2) This energy has no gravitational consequences because it’s pulling equally in every direction.
3) Relativistic linear frame dragging might break that symmetry with gravitational consequences.
I don’t have the background to go further with the idea, or even to tell whether it’s blatantly stupid. It’s a stray thought; if you can make something of it, feel free.
Look for a system where the predictions of GR contradict, or at least interact with, the predictions of QM.
There are two main examples: Microscopic exploding black holes, and the Big Bang.
Our current fundamental physics theories are probably adequate to explain literally everything that happens in the solar system, which is one of the reasons I don’t think fundamental physics is a particularly time-sensitive topic of research. So we can just wait until we have superintelligent AGI, and ask it what the fundamental laws of physics are. :-)
This energy has no gravitational consequences because it’s pulling equally in every direction.
Although I appreciate the intuition that ” it’s pulling equally in every direction”, uniform energy density does in fact have an effect in GR. It causes the whole universe to expand or contract. That’s exactly what dark energy is.
The Trouble with Physics does address zero-point energy as a possible explanation/alternative for dark energy. Your points 1 and 2 are correct. The problem is that the cosmological constant calculated from vacuum energy is many orders of magnitude greater than the observed cosmological constant.
Look for a system where the predictions of GR contradict, or at least interact with, the predictions of QM. If there is no such system, then the contradictions are more metaphysical than empirical.
I’ve wondered for a while if the gravitational anomalies ascribed to dark matter/energy could be the result of linear frame dragging through the quantum fields. The basic idea is:
1) QM says there’s a lot of “zero-point energy” surrounding us in every direction related to the quantum fields.
2) This energy has no gravitational consequences because it’s pulling equally in every direction.
3) Relativistic linear frame dragging might break that symmetry with gravitational consequences.
I don’t have the background to go further with the idea, or even to tell whether it’s blatantly stupid. It’s a stray thought; if you can make something of it, feel free.
There are two main examples: Microscopic exploding black holes, and the Big Bang.
Our current fundamental physics theories are probably adequate to explain literally everything that happens in the solar system, which is one of the reasons I don’t think fundamental physics is a particularly time-sensitive topic of research. So we can just wait until we have superintelligent AGI, and ask it what the fundamental laws of physics are. :-)
Although I appreciate the intuition that ” it’s pulling equally in every direction”, uniform energy density does in fact have an effect in GR. It causes the whole universe to expand or contract. That’s exactly what dark energy is.
The Trouble with Physics does address zero-point energy as a possible explanation/alternative for dark energy. Your points 1 and 2 are correct. The problem is that the cosmological constant calculated from vacuum energy is many orders of magnitude greater than the observed cosmological constant.
FYI dark energy probably doesn’t exist and therefore doesn’t need an explanation: https://phys.org/news/2020-01-evidence-key-assumption-discovery-dark.html