Astrophysics

Consciousness, Physics, and the Holographic Paradigm

Essays by Alan T. Williams

Part I: Sneaking Up On Einstein

Astrophysics in the first decade of the 21st century
is in the midst of a revolution that leads beyond the stars.
- A. T. Williams

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Chapter 6: From Energy To Mass

Please note that these Web pages are under construction and Chapter 6 currently lacks a unifying theme other than the astrophysics quotation in the title bar above.

Section 1: Astrophysics:

Quoting Professor William C. (Bill) Keel of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama:

One of the most sensational predictions from Einstein's general theory of relativity was the gravitational deflection of starlight. This has no counterpart in classical physics. Since the masses of both interacting objects enter into Newton's expresson for gravitational attraction, a massless entity (such as light) cannot respond to the force of gravity. In contrast, Einstein showed that gravity can be viewed, not as a force between objects, but as a change in the geometry of the playing field – spacetime itself – in which objects exist. Motion, in this view, always takes place in the straightest available path, which may be curved if the straightest path is not exactly what we would think of as "straight." Light, too, might have to transit in such a path.

It will become clear that there is much more to be said about the gravitational deflection of starlight (gravitational lensing) and the geometry of space-time itself as we learn more about contemporary astrophysics.

(under construction)

Continued in Section 2: Cosmology

Reference Notes (Click on the Note number to return to the text):

1 Keel, William C. The Sky at Einstein's Feet, p. 97. Praxis Publishing Ltd., Berlin, Germany, 2006. ISBN 10: 0-387-26130-3

Back to Chapter 5, Section 1: The Energetic Primordial Medium

Index: Consciousness, Physics, and the Holographic Paradigm

Last Edit: February 25, 2007.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

This paper is a work in progress. Please check for the latest update before quoting in other venues the concepts and hypotheses presented here.
Thank you.

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