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Study Finds Flaw In Emergent Gravity (phys.org)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Phys.Org: In recent years, some physicists have been investigating the possibility that gravity is not actually a fundamental force, but rather an emergent phenomenon that arises from the collective motion of small bits of information encoded on spacetime surfaces called holographic screens. The theory, called emergent gravity, hinges on the existence of a close connection between gravity and thermodynamics. Emergent gravity has received its share of criticism, however, and a new paper adds to this by showing that the holographic screen surfaces described by the theory do not actually behave thermodynamically, undermining a key assumption of the theory.
In the new paper, the scientists tested whether different kinds of surfaces obey an analogue of the first law of thermodynamics, which is a special form of energy conservation. Their results reveal that, while surfaces near black holes (called stretched horizons) do obey the first law, ordinary surfaces -- including holographic screens -- generally do not. The only exception is that ordinary surfaces that are spherically symmetric do obey the first law. As the scientists explain, the finding that stretched horizons obey the first law is not surprising, since these surfaces inherit much of their behavior from the nearby horizons. Still, the scientists caution that the results do not necessarily imply that stretched horizons obey all of the laws of thermodynamics. On the other hand, the finding that ordinary surfaces do not obey the first law is more unexpected, especially as it is one of the key assumptions of emergent gravity. Going forward, researchers will work to understand what this means for the future of emergent gravity, as well as explore other possible implications.
In the new paper, the scientists tested whether different kinds of surfaces obey an analogue of the first law of thermodynamics, which is a special form of energy conservation. Their results reveal that, while surfaces near black holes (called stretched horizons) do obey the first law, ordinary surfaces -- including holographic screens -- generally do not. The only exception is that ordinary surfaces that are spherically symmetric do obey the first law. As the scientists explain, the finding that stretched horizons obey the first law is not surprising, since these surfaces inherit much of their behavior from the nearby horizons. Still, the scientists caution that the results do not necessarily imply that stretched horizons obey all of the laws of thermodynamics. On the other hand, the finding that ordinary surfaces do not obey the first law is more unexpected, especially as it is one of the key assumptions of emergent gravity. Going forward, researchers will work to understand what this means for the future of emergent gravity, as well as explore other possible implications.
Aren't all physical properties above the quantum scale simply emergent properties? Motion itself is an emergent property that doesn't really happen at the quantum level; how could gravity NOT be emergent if it is described in terms of motion?
Once we start finding more and more flaws in "reality" we will likely start realizing that, yes, our "reality" is actually a computer simulation of reality. Uh Oh.
He WOULDN"T have created ISAAC NEWTON
Not knowing much of the theory, isn't the limitation of using only spherical holographic screens fine to explain gravity, which is after all expected to behave in a spherically symmetric way around mass?
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Is there a name for this little world of yours? âoeHollographic screensâ?
Gravity = 9.8 m/s^2 in direction to the Earth's center from 0 m sea level.
Finally, someone has explained the thermodynamics issue in emergent gravity theory re holographic screen surfaces using layman's terms to underscore the current scientific controversy in a clear, simple, easy-to-understand way that I nonetheless have no idea what the f----
This article highlights the main problem with theoretical physicists. They are arrogant, and lack basic understanding of proper use of language. For example, the flaw identified in the paper is not with "Emergent Gravity", but with a specific attempt at an emergent gravity theory. The flaw is with the "holographic screens" theory. Now some idiot will go around claiming that "emergent gravity" is flawed. This is just one example out of a million like this. You can find similar examples in almost every discussion about Quantum Theory -- self delusion through poor use of language, perhaps intentionally so.
"Fighting terrorists with millitary might is like killing a mosquitor on your Dad's forehead with a rifle."
Smells like bullshit to me. But what do you expect from losers who spend all their spare time in the basement playing video games? I'm sorry chumps, but as much as you love your video games, gravity ain't one.
Read her book. She is a theoretical physicist calling out the supersymmetrical intellectual dream fantasy wanking that theoretical physics has become: book is called âsLost in Mathâ . It is a great read.
The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
Did they measure these flaws? Or just do some maths? I'm guessing they didn't measure anything near a black hole to see if it's true.
So one person comes up with some maths, another finds flaws in those maths, none of it explains anything except how physicists like to spend their time.
Uh oh - better go alert Leonard.
Nerds!