PHENOMEN OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS MISSED OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS OF THE XXth CENTURY

The phenomenon of missed opportunities in the course of two scientific revolutions in fundamental physics is investigated: in the quantum relativistic revolution of the first third of the 20th century and in the gauge revolution that led to the creation of a standard model in elementary particle physics (1954-1974). Two cases of missed opportunities related to H. Poincare and his role in the history of the creation of the special theory of relativity are examined on the material of the first revolution. Two other cases of missed opportunities concerning A. Einstein in connection with the theory of the expanding Universe and with failed attempts to build a unified field theory based on a geometric field program are also considered. It is shown that in these cases epistemological and metaphysical outlooks of scientists were in many respects the causes of the «omissions». We mean the conventionalism of Poincare, as well as Einstein’s belief in the stationarity of the Universe and in the incredible power of mathematics as the only creative beginning in the construction of the physical theories. Two similar plots are explored on the material of the second revolution. The first story refers to the Young-Mills’ concept of the gauge fields, which played a key role in the creation of standard model. Several theorists came very close to this concept and, above all, V. Pauli, who for various reasons did not make a decisive step and missed opportunities to associate their names with the theory of gauge fields. Pauli believed that, despite its theoretical attraction, it could not overcome experimentally - empirical difficulties. The second story is related to the quantum field program being rejected in 1950-1960s by most theorists in favor of the phenomenological S-matrix program. As a result, many theorists have missed their opportunities to contribute to the creation of a standard model. And this “omission” was partly motivated by the positivist thesis that in theory only fundamentally observable values should appear. It is emphasized also that the phenomenon of missed opportunities opens the way for the study of the problem of alternative history of science.

Motion of Charged Spinning Particles in a Unified Field

Using a geometry wider than Riemannian one, the parameterized absolute parallelism (PAP) geometry, we derived a new curve containing two parameters. In the context of the geometrization philosophy, this new curve can be used as a trajectory of charged spinning test particle in any unified field theory constructed in the PAP space. We show that imposing certain conditions on the two parameters, the new curve can be reduced to a geodesic curve giving the motion of a scalar test particle or/and a modified geodesic giving the motion of neutral spinning test particle in a gravitational field. The new method used for derivation, the Bazanski method, shows a new feature in the new curve equation. This feature is that the equation contains the electromagnetic potential term together with the Lorentz term. We show the importance of this feature in physical applications.

Quantum Vacuum Gravitation Matter-Antimatter Antigravity

Without stating any assumptions or making postulates we show that the electromagnetic quantum vacuum plays a primary role in quantum electrodynamics, particle physics, gravitation and cosmology. Photons are local oscillations of the electromagnetic quantum vacuum field guided by a non-local vector potential wave function. The electron-positron elementary charge emerges naturally from the vacuum field and is related to the photon vector potential. We establish the masse-charge equivalence relation showing that the masses of all particles (leptons, mesons, baryons) and antiparticles have electromagnetic origin. In addition, we deduce that the gravitational constant G is an intrinsic property of the electromagnetic quantum vacuum putting in evidence the electromagnetic nature of gravity. We show that Newton’s gravitational law is equivalent to Coulomb’s electrostatic law. Furthermore, we draw that G is the same for matter and antimatter but gravitational forces could be repulsive between particles and antiparticles because their masses bear naturally opposite signs. The electromagnetic quantum vacuum field may be the natural link between particle physics, quantum electrodynamics, gravitation and cosmology constituting a basic step towards a unified field theory.

Towards Unification of General Relativity and Quantum Theory: Dendrogram Representation of the Event-Universe

Following Smolin, we proceed to unification of general relativity and quantum theory by operating solely with events, i.e., without appealing to physical systems and space-time. The universe is modelled as a dendrogram (finite tree) expressing the hierarchic relations between events. This is the observational (epistemic) model; the ontic model is based on p-adic numbers (infinite trees). Hence, we use novel mathematics—not only space-time but even real numbers are not in use. Here, the p-adic space (which is zero dimensional) serves as the base for the holographic image of the universe. In this way our theory relates to p-adic physics; in particular, p-adic string theory and complex disordered systems (p-adic representation of Parisi matrix for spin glasses). Our Dendrogramic-Holographic (DH) theory matches perfectly with the Mach’s principle and Brans-Dicke theory. We found surprising informational interrelation between the fundamental constants, h, c, G, and their DH-analogues, h(D), c(D), G(D). DH-theory is part of Wheeler’s project on the information restructuring of physics. It is also a step towards the Unified Field theory. The universal potential V is nonlocal, but this is relational DH-nonlocality. V can be coupled to the Bohm quantum potential by moving to the real representation. This coupling enhanced the role of the Bohm potential.

Time-Invariant Superfluid Quantum Space as the Unified Field Theory

The novelty of 21st-century physics is the development of the “superfluid quantum vacuum” model, also named “superfluid quantum space” that is replacing space-time as the fundamental arena of the universe. It also represents the model that has the potential of unifying four fundamental forces of the universe. Superfluid quantum space is represented as the time-invariant fundamental field of the universe where time is merely the duration of material changes.

Unified theories metrics and primordial magnetic fields in Riemann–Cartan spacetime

Several spacetime metrics in teleparallel geometry of Einstein like unified field theory (UFT) are presented. Cosmic magnetic fields are obtained in terms of the early universe torsion and other stages of the universe. For example, in one of the metrics, integration of the 2-form torsion 0-component is written in terms of magnetic flux, from Faraday’s induced equation. These ideas were obtained from a recent paper we published [Class. Quantum Grav. (2015)] on non-stationary teleparallel metrics, where at coherent length of 10 kpc a magnetic field of [Formula: see text] Gauss is obtained. At early universe, a torsion of 1 MeV leads us to a magnetic field of the order of [Formula: see text] Gauss which is weaker than the Bierman battery effect magnetic field of the order of [Formula: see text] Gauss. Hence this new metric indicates that unifield theory metrics a la Schrödinger may be used to obtain primordial magnetic fields. Other tests of this metric led to the nowadays magnetic field of [Formula: see text] Gauss from the torsion at present universe (at the laboratory using dual maser obtained by Kostelecky et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett.]) of [Formula: see text] GeV. Cartan torsion has been frequently associated to topological defects in crystals or in pseudo-magnetic torsional fields. In this paper, we discuss how from teleparallel gravity one may obtain a theory of electromagnetism from metrics in spacetime. Topological defects given by Letelier [Class. Quantum Grav. 12 (1995) 1133] and Tod [Class. Quantum Grav. 11(5) (1994)] metrics can also be associated with pseudo-magnetic fields. Electromagnetism is geometrized via a bimetric theory of gravity where one metric is responsible for Ampere’s law and the other by the Faraday induction equation which gives rise to dynamo equation.