Polarizable vacuum analysis of the gravitational metric tensor

TL;DR

This paper proposes a polarizable vacuum model where the gravitational metric tensor is interpreted as a variable dielectric tensor, suggesting vacuum polarization effects under gravity that could influence light propagation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel interpretation of the gravitational metric tensor as a polarizable vacuum with variable dielectric properties, linking vacuum polarization to gravity.

Findings

Virtual dipole density decreases with distance from mass

Vacuum polarization can explain gravitational force

Potential anisotropic light propagation in altered vacuum

Abstract

The gravitational metric tensor implies a variable dielectric tensor of vacuum around gravitational matter. The curved spacetime in general relativity is then associated with a polarizable vacuum. It is found that the number density of the virtual dipoles in vacuum decreases with the distance from the gravitational centre. This result offers a polarizable vacuum interpretation of the gravitational force. Also, the anisotropy of vacuum polarization is briefly discussed, which appeals for observational proof of anisotropic light propagation in a vacuum altered by gravitational or electromagnetic field.