Mass for the graviton

TL;DR

This paper proposes an alternative gravity theory with a massive graviton that aligns with classical tests but predicts radically different strong-field phenomena, including the non-existence of traditional black holes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel massive graviton theory that satisfies the equivalence principle and passes classical tests while fundamentally altering strong-field predictions.

Findings

Passes weak and medium-field tests

Predicts no traditional black holes

Decouples cosmology from matter distribution

Abstract

Can we give the graviton a mass? Does it even make sense to speak of a massive graviton? In this essay I shall answer these questions in the affirmative. I shall outline an alternative to Einstein Gravity that satisfies the Equivalence Principle and automatically passes all classical weak-field tests (GM/r approx 10^{-6}). It also passes medium-field tests (GM/r approx 1/5), but exhibits radically different strong-field behaviour (GM/r approx 1). Black holes in the usual sense do not exist in this theory, and large-scale cosmology is divorced from the distribution of matter. To do all this we have to sacrifice something: the theory exhibits {*prior geometry*}, and depends on a non-dynamical background metric.