Dear Hoang Cao Hai

Thank you for your message. It would be wonderful for all of us to agree on how to really understand mass at the most basic level. Unfortunately it is not so easy. The Standard Model explains particle masss and now the Higgs mechanism and particle have been discovered... but what actually are they? And what is the relation of those with gravity? Different models have different interpretations. My interpretation of matter (and gravity) is in my Beautiful Universe Theory . But it is an incomplete and unproven idea!

Enjoy research!

Vladimir

    Vladimir

    I agree with your essay and enjoyed your characterisation and style. I was pleased to have read yours before completing mine and, as I recall, make mention of yours among other impressive entries, particularly Peter Jackson's. I hope you'll read, score and give your views on mine too.

    Best of luck.

    Rich

      Dear Rich, thank you for reading my essay, your kind comments here, and for referring to some of my points in your essay. I have read your essay and enjoyed it (and scored it) on your page. Peter's Jackson's essay and enthusiasm for the success of this contest in promoting good new ideas is to be commended.

      With best wishes,

      Vladimir

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      • Post #118

      Dear Vladimir,

      This is a request for you to rate my essay in the FQXi contest. (I discussed your essay earlier with you).

      I am writing this to you because you, as a Philosopher/ Physicist, are better able to understand about the Foundational Problems of Physics than Theoretical Physicists.

      As a philosopher you are better equipped to understand, how the problems have originated in Newtonian conceptual framework in the formative stage and how these have spread and morphed into further problems in SRT and QM. People now a days are mostly talking about the morphed derivatives, when the solution is to be found in tackling the Primordial Problems. Also, you will understand my discussion philosophically about Einstein's search for the 'Right Way' patterned on TD, (notwithstanding his own relativity theory).

      First I will brief you about my essay and then I will explain why I need your help.

      The gist of my essay: http://fqxi.org/community/forum/topic/1549

      1. It identifies the PRIMORDIAL Foundational Problems in Newtonian Mechanics (NM) that runs through ALL BRANCHES OF PHYSICS. (Please see the short attachment "Primordial Foundational Problems").

      2. It eliminates the problematic concept of POINT-MASS (common to NM, QM, SRT) to allow internal structure for a particle. This in turn enables to resolve the other interconnected problems.

      3. The result: By taking these two steps, ALL THE EQUATIONS OF SRT are DYNAMICALLY derived by identifying the trignometric relations within the energy-momentum equation, and by restoring Galileo's principle of relativity. (I beg you to have a glance at the attachment - "Geometrodynamics of Energy" to verify this claim). - See also comment by L.B Crowell below.

      4. This achievement will establish that I have not just treated these problems at the level a speculative discussion as in other essays, but that the problems discussed are real by virtue of their solution leading to the unification of NM and SRT (finding an equation which is equally valid for slow and very fast motions).

      Why I need your help:

      1. Although the Topic of the FQXi Essay Contest is about "Which Basic Assumptions are Wrong", you would find that even most of the top 35 essays do not cover these. They either cover one or none.

      2. My essay, http://fqxi.org/community/forum/topic/1549, "A Treatise of Foundational Problems of Physics", covers the whole group of PRIMORDIAL foundational errors in the Newtonian Mechanics, which have been inherited by QM and SRT.

      Yet my essay still stands at around the 135th position, (see the Comment attached by the fellow essayist Ben Dribus) with no chances of entering the final...... unless you give it the best rating it deserves.

      So please give some of your valuable time to read and rate my essay. Also, I would appreciate if you would pass this on to others.

      Best regards,

      Viraj Fernando

      ----------------------------------------

      Here is the impartial comment made by Ben Dribus (essayist in no 2 position): "One thing I will say is that it appears as if you made an honest effort to answer the question posed by the essay contest rather than just writing down your favorite ideas about physics. You will notice that I made a similar effort..... I am not sure why it was rated so low, but my impression is that many authors automatically rate other essays low to boost their own standing".

      Here's the comment made by LB Crowell (essayist at no. 20 position): "The calculations I just looked at and they seem alright. ...... Your procedure appears to be some euclideanization of relativity. At the end you arrive at equations which are the same as special relativity".Attachment #1: Primordial_Foundational_Problems.docAttachment #2: GEOMETRODYNAMICS_OF_ENERGY.doc

      Dear Viraj

      I am certainly not a philosopher but I thank you if you meant it as a sign that you respect my opinions! I already enjoyed reading your essay and commented about it and rated it on your page. I wish you all the best in the essay contest, but more important are the connections with like-minded people we are able to make on these pages.

      Vladimir

      Dear Hoang Cao Hai

      Thank you for your message. You said:

      "The standard model has a lot of loopholes, the most basic is the determination of nuts"

      Do you mean determination of mass? Particles? I am not an expert in particle physics, but feel a different basis for the Standard Model should be sought.

      Good luck with your absolute theory encompassing religion and science. Did you read the famous and excellent book about physics and Eastern religions? It is The Tao of Physics . It may be difficult to find in Hanoi, but search for it as a pdf online. The Templeton Foundation is concerned with religion and science.

      Many wise people find links such links between religion and science. Ideally all knowledge and faith should be one, but in actual practice I feel it is better to keep them apart.

      Vladimir

      Dear Vladimir,

      How refreshing well illustrated essay. Even if I may not fully agree in every aspect of your questions or proposed approaches I think you touch many of the main questions that puzzle or should puzzle physics as a whole field, specially now that we seem to have reached some kind of closed road to continue making progress at least at the same exciting pace as it was just a few decades ago. Perhaps it is that we are exhausting our theories of physics (hence starting to come up with clouds of strings disconnected from your main building of physics) and it is time to focus effort in areas that look much more promising, like genetics, new materials and many others. Congratulations for your artistic talent, if you'd make it a business and you could illustrate my own papers I would be more than interested.

        Dear Hector

        Thank you for reading my essay. I am honored by your positive remarks about some of the physics questions therin - and especially glad you liked the illustrations. After all I am an artist and have tried hard to make the figures explain the physics.

        It is a bit drastic for you to despair of progress in physics and therefore concentrate on applications - but I can imagine it is the result of the seeming aridity of much of the current research. But isn't that what fqxi is trying to tackle by encouraging discussion of new solutions?

        Yes there is so much exciting stuff going on in genetics and materials (such as metamaterials and graphene). I have seen your homepage and am impressed by your work. I would be happy to discuss illustrating your papers. Please write to me what you have in mind to vladimirtamari(at)hotmail.com

        Looking forward to a fruitful cooporation

        Vladimir

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        • Post #123

        Vladimir,

        Your analysis of the constancy/inconstancy of the speed of light is insufficient. You wrote:

        "Unfortunately by proposing that the speed of light (c) is constant, Einstein imposed a strange requirement on Nature: Space itself expands and contracts, and time dilates, as measured from a moving inertial frame. He made measurement absolute, i.e. (c) is constant (light being the 'tool' that measures distance and time), but the universe itself became relative - there is no absolute ether in which events occur. This is the exact opposite of what happens in the Lorentz transformations that inspired (SR), whereby the universe is absolute (a universal medium or ether exists) but it is measurement that is relative (clocks slow down as they move, not time itself, and measuring rods physically contract, not space itself, and (c) need not be fixed. In any case both in (SR) and in Lorentz' theory, the measured speed of light ends up being the same."

        If, according to the ether theory that you defend, the speed of light "need not be fixed", just give an example showing how the speed of light varies.

        Are time dilation and length contraction RECIPROCAL according to the ether theory that you defend? That is, does any observer see any other observer's clock running slow?

        Pentcho Valev

        Dear Pentcho Valev

        Thank you for your critical response. You are quite right - my analysis is insufficient. Three factors contribute to that: 1- the format of the fqxi contest wanted us to ask foundational questions, and specifically discouraged 'shoehorning' our own 'pet theories' in the discussion; in other words not to give the answers! 2- the word-count limit did not allow a lengthy discussion. Most importantly 3- my conclusions are based on my 2005 Beautiful Universe Theory which is admittedly qualitative and needs mathematical development in many areas. Having said that I feel confident from thought experiments imagining how energy hops across the ether nodes, and how force on a body 'compresses' its length before it starts moving (see attached figure from the BU paper), that the equivalent of SR can be developed including reciprocal *measured* clock-time retardation, and *measured* length contraction. This becomes obvious if you think of time measured by a clock made up of a bouncing ray of light in a box whose length contracts along the way it travels.

        The payoff for this way of thinking is in the great simplification of gravity, because it is not spacetime that warps so unrealistically, merely the ether medium has a density gradient, which slows down (c) as described in Q.4. As I mentioned Einstein himself later admitted that (c) has to slow down when curving in a gravity field. SR plays no role in such a situation because both the light and the star are in the same inertial frame. The required formulation of all this in (BU) should be based on discrete 'steps' between nodes, at a *maximum* speed of (c) in a vacuum free from masses and fields.

        Any help translating these intuitions into more rigorous mathematical form would be welcome!

        VladimirAttachment #1: 1_BUFIG26.jpg

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          • Post #125

          In Lorentz ether theory time dilation and length contraction are not reciprocal, Vladimir. This fact is usually ignored but still some authors do mention it:

          W.L. Craig, The Tenseless Theory of Time, p. 26: "Kroes, however, disputes Dieks' s claim in this regard. He charges that Dieks has overlooked the fact that in Einstein's theory these relativistic effects are RECIPROCAL. Lorentz's dynamical interpretations of the shortening of rods and of time dilation only make sense because they are not reciprocal."

          Pentcho Valev

          Thanks Pentcho you have gone into this matter more than I have and I need to study more, starting with reading your essay! Since in (BU) theory we are considering a new physical situation with new possibilities, perhaps a new understanding may evolve, rather than stick to what Einstein or Lorentz have presented in terms of the physical understanding of Nature of their era. They both differentiated between matter and the vacuum, while in BU matter is made of the same stuff as the ether.

          In BU theory there is no time dimension, so the concept of speed of light itself becomes academic. This may seem less drastic than it seems: In a timeless universe absolute simultaneity is automatically established everywhere, but relativistic effects will be measured locally from inertial frames. BTW what does the experimental evidence have to say about whether time dilation and length contraction are reciprocal or not?

          Vladimir

            Dear Vladimir,

            What a great essay! When I read the sentence "Clever mathematics allows defining the same phenomena in different ways: in geometry a circle is realistically defined by its center and radius, but a relatively complicated algebraic definition is also possible - the latter however gives no idea of its shape." I said, there's a man after my own heart, an art-science creator unbound by a single category. It's hard not to think of the successful math that proved for eighteen-hundred years the Sun circled the Earth.

            An artist friend, Harry Holtzman, long gone, used to say that, "Hardening of the categories leads to art disease." Isn't something like this true also of science? I remember a Robert Oppenheimer interview in which he emphasized the need to create or maintain bridges between disciplines, the most likely fertile ground for making new discoveries.

            My argument is against the bullying long ago by the Copenhagen powers that excluded forever students with strong visual sensibilities and talent from participating in the world of quantum physics. Since 1930 people have been scared to death even to hint that the atom might possibly be a real and logical device. Sorry, Vladimir, but I've set off my personal tick, that hidden spring that gets me started the moment I think atom.

            I admire greatly your image of science as a dwelling with many separate rooms disconnected from one another. Looking at your brilliant illustrations it occurred to me that one day when you've mulled over the architectural possibilities you might find yourself sketching an improved architecture, a co-op to house the different disciplines but with connecting rooms.

            With great admiration and best wishes,

            Ken Snelson

            Ken

            I treasure the kudos from you, the inventor of tensegrity and the creator of the stunning world-famous sculptures gracing so many museums and plazas from Baltimore to Tokyo. In physics I was thrilled to discover your rotating circular magnets that move in sync - a beautiful illustration of how I think nodes making up matter move in my Beautiful Universe theory, as I credited you in my 2005 paper. I still need to study in depth your models of de Broglie atomic waves. But as Paul Dirac felt concerning theories in physics - on account of its beauty alone it must be true!

            Unlike you I have gone into so many directions at once and many of my ideas or project are left unfinished. Not out of laziness or lack of opportunity, but because in the same way you describe the entrenched positions of the Copenhagen people, most fields are dominated by successful 'experts' who do not like upstarts daring to present new ideas that challenge old ones. So the project is left dangling! Slowly however things are changing.

            You mentioned Dr. Oppenheimer - he pioneered the Exploratorium science museum in California. Another fqxi essayist Eric Reiter knows -(he exhibited his Sun Harp there) - Eric is himself a brave pioneer against entrenched ideas and experimentally disproved the point photon idea.

            Viva American inventiveness, and creativity everywhere, with free minds coupled with hard work and faith in one's own ideas, taking them where they might!

            Thank you again for your visit and generous encouragement.

            Vladimir

            Vladimir,

            Although your analysis of the constancy/inconstancy of the speed of light is insufficient, you have gone far enough towards the truth so you get maximum rating from me.

            Note that my essay is no longer in the contest so there is no bargaining in my message.

            Pentcho Valev

            Dear Vladimir,

            In the framework of the Theory of Infinite Nesting of Matter (my essay) I answer your question in such way: 1). The world consist of numerous objects (particles, stars, galaxies and so on). The matter of every objects consist of particles of low levels of matter. The physical state of matter of different objects is different. But it is possible to find coefficients of similarity between similar objects at different levels of matter and with them predict properties of objects. The wave quanta may be represented as changes of density of fluxes of gravitons which consist of neutrino, photons and charged particles similar to cosmic rays (all of it was born at low levels of matter by particles much more less then nucleons). Space is mathematical construction and realized only throw real particle and material reference frame. Flexibility of space is the same as flexibility of all reference frames - it is no more then mathematical trick. 3). How we can understand that speed of light c is constant in all inertial systems? This question is well seen in Extended special theory of relativity . It is shown that constancy of speed of light in all inertial systems may be a consequence of constancy of speed of light in isotropic reference frame where the speed is the same in all direction and may be connected with isotropy of fluxes of gravitons. Another reason is procedure of space-time measurement in special relativity which uses two-way propagation of waves. With such procedure averaging of speed of light take place giving the value of c. But real speed in a direction may be not c. See Metric theory of relativity. Ether consist of fluxes of gravitons. 4). Gravitation change only paths of photons and their energy, not the spacetime itself. Since space-time measurements use electromagnetic waves then the metric of space-time is changed in the field of gravity in relation to the Minkowski metric. So some one thinks that spacetime is warped. 5). The model of photons is in paper Cosmic Red Shift, Microwave Background, and New Particles.. The photons consist of numerous charged tiny particles, rotating around axis of motion. The model of electron is in the book: The physical theories and infinite nesting of matter.. 7). There is the model of quarks and in the model quarks are quasiparticles not real particles.

            Sergey Fedosin

              Vladimir,

              Great discussion. I for one think that the vacuum of space can change or be changed to break the constancy of light speed.

              For this contest, I decided to go through and comment on essays of interest and see what responses I got to my own essay. There are over 250 entries, so I narrowed down my evaluations. For only those who responded, I decided to reread and provide my evaluations before time expired, not making it a popularity contest but keeping in mind that I entered for an exchange of interesting ideas, whether I agree or not. Some concepts are superior and more persuasively supported.

              I think yours comes under that guideline.

              Jim

              Hi Jim

              Thanks for your message - the constancy of the speed of light is applicable only in cases where *measurements* are involved from one inertial frame to another. But because Einstein enshrined it into an absolute postulate in SR the concept played havoc when applied without any necessity to do so to describe gravity . SR need not apply in cases 'out there' with no observer involved, for example in the bending of light in a gravitational field.

              Thanks for your kind words about my essay. In general I do not think the peer-evaluation of the contest system is fair or a good way to select the best ones. For example Eric Reiter's fqxi essay is the only one with experimental groundbreaking evidence that can really make a difference. But he chose to write it too technically and it seems to be languishing in the ratings. Please check it out and rate it. I have read and rated som 80 essays (I cannot believe I did that!) including yours. Good luck.

              Vladimir

              Dear Sergey

              Thank you so much for your detailed explanation.I have so much to learn, and am learning everyday from interesting thinkers like you - I read about 80 fqxi essays. The papers you mentioned cover subjects of great importance, but in order to comment on them I have to read them - and I hope to do so in the near future as time (and energy - I am 70 years old!) permits.

              In general I do not subscribe to the concept of photon particles, nor to gravitons. In my Beautiful Universe theory I see gravity as the effect of twisting of ether dipole nodes ...almost a topological rather than a particle explanation. I see you have read Eric Reiter's essay - where he experimentally proved that the photon is not a particle. This is an important development that will necessiate the revision of a lot of conceptual ideas.

              I wish you the best

              Vladimir

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              • Post #134

              The problem with the speed of light is existential, not just scientific, Vladimir. If the speed of light does depend on the speed of the light source, that is, if Einstein's 1905 light postulate is false, an unavoidable conclusion is that not only Einstein's relativity but modern physics as a whole has been long dead. Einstein hinted at this in 1954 but hid the real problem behind a euphemism:

              Albert Einstein (1954): "I consider it entirely possible that physics cannot be based upon the field concept, that is on continuous structures. Then nothing will remain of my whole castle in the air, including the theory of gravitation, but also nothing of the rest of contemporary physics."

              Joao Magueijo is more explicit:

              Joao Magueijo: "In sharp contrast, the constancy of the speed of light has remain sacred, and the term "heresy" is occasionally used in relation to "varying speed of light theories". The reason is clear: the constancy of c, unlike the constancy of G or e, is the pillar of special relativity and thus of modern physics. Varying c theories are expected to cause much more structural damage to physics formalism than other varying constant theories."

              Pentcho Valev