p2

As recently elaborated by Puthoff (1999a, 2002a, b; Puthoff et al., 2002) the PV-GR approach, which
was first introduced by Wilson (1921) and then developed by Dicke (1957, 1961), can be carried out in a
self-consistent way so as to reproduce to appropriate order both the equations of general relativity and the
match to the standard astrophysics weak-field experimental (PPN parameters and other) tests of those
equations while posing testable modifications for strong-field conditions. It is in application that the PV-
GR approach demonstrates its intuitive appeal and provides additional insight into what is meant by a
curved spacetime metric.
Specifically, the PV-GR approach treats such measures as the speed of light, the length of rulers
(atomic bond lengths), the frequency of clocks, particle masses, and so forth, in terms of a variable
vacuum dielectric constant K in which the vacuum permittivity ε 0 transforms as ε 0 → Kε 0 and the vacuum
permeability transforms as µ 0 → Kµ 0 (see also, Rucker, 1977). In a planetary or solar gravitational
potential K = exp(2GM/rc 0 2 ) > 1 (M is a local mass distribution, r is the radial distance from the center of
M) while K = 1 in “empty” or free asymptotic space (Puthoff, 1999a, 2002a, b; Puthoff et al., 2002). In
the former case, the speed of light is reduced, light emitted from an atom is redshifted as compared with a
remote static atom (where K = 1), clocks run slower, objects/rulers shrink, etc. See Table 1.
Table 1. Metric Effects in the PV-GR Model When K > 1 (Compared With
Reference Frames at Asymptotic Infinity Where K = 1; adapted from Puthoff et al., 2002)
Variable
Determining Equation
(subscript 0 is asymptotic value
where K = 1)
K > 1
(typical mass distribution, M)
modified speed of light c * (K) c * = c 0 /K speed of light < c 0
Modified mass m(K) m = m 0 K 3/2 effective mass increases
modified frequency ω(K) ω = ω 0 K −1/2 redshift toward lower frequencies
modified time interval ∆t(K) ∆t = ∆t 0 K 1/2 clocks run slower
modified energy E(K) E = E 0 K −1/2 lower energy states
Modified length L(K) L = L 0 K −1/2 objects/rulers shrink
dielectric-vacuum
“gravitational” forces F(K)
F(K) ∝ ∇K
attractive gravitational force
When K = 1 we have the condition that c * = c 0 (vacuum refraction index = 1), because the vacuum is
free (or un-modified, and ρ vac = 0) in this case. When K > 1, as occurs in a region of space possessing a
gravitational potential, then we have the condition that c * < c 0 (vacuum refraction index > 1), because the
modified vacuum has a higher energy density in the presence of the local mass distribution that generates
the local gravitational field. This fact allows us to make a direct correspondence between the speed of
light modification physics discussion in Section 2.2 and the underlying basis for the physics of the PV-
GR model. Under certain conditions the spacetime metric can in principle be modified to reduce the
value of K to below unity, thus allowing for faster-than-light (FTL) motion to be physically realized. In
this case, the local speed of light (as measured by remote static observers) is increased, light emitted from
an atom is blueshifted as compared with a remote static atom, objects/rulers expand, clocks run faster, etc.
See Table 2. We therefore have the condition that c * > c 0 (vacuum refraction index < 1) because the
modified vacuum has a lower energy density. In fact, Puthoff (1999a, 2002a) has analyzed certain special
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