Gravitational Space Dilation

TL;DR

This paper proposes that gravitational effects cause both time and space standards to dilate, simplifying the interpretation of phenomena in static gravitational fields by using a single-observer conformal transformation approach.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of gravitational space dilation, extending the idea of time dilation to spatial measurements, and offers a simplified single-observer framework for understanding static gravitational fields.

Findings

Standard meter dilates at low gravitational potential.

Measurements can be corrected via conformal transformations.

Simplifies interpretation of gravitational phenomena.

Abstract

We point out that, if one accepts the view that the standard second on an atomic clock is dilated at low gravitational potential (ordinary gravitational time dilation), then the standard meter must also be dilated at low gravitational potential and by the same factor (gravitational space dilation). These effects may be viewed as distortions of the time and length standards by the gravitational field, and measurements made with these distorted standards can be "corrected" by means of a conformal transformation applied to the usual spacetime metric of general relativity. The surprising feature of this single-observer picture is a substantial simplification of interpretation and formalism for numerous phenomena in a static gravitational field as compared to the conventional "many-observer" interpretation of general relativity.