The Speed of Light and the Dynamic Space Environment in General Relativity

The concept of the speed of light being constant and relative to the medium has roots in many interpretations. In this article, we will explore why the speed of light in general relativity must be considered relative to the local environment, and dive into how this understanding connects to the malleable space environment and Hubble dynamics.

Understanding the Ether and the Space Environment

Traditional ideas often discuss light and radiations spreading through a seemingly empty cosmic environment or ether. This is a misnomer. The space environment, or ether, is much more dynamic and can be re-arranged in various ways. Bodies, even those with more rigid structures, can be considered as condensates of the space environment and move in accordance with the internal rearrangement of this environment. Light and other waves propagate through the more malleable phase of this environment, with a speed denoted as c.

The Misunderstanding of Ether in the 19th Century

In the 19th century, there was a prevailing misconception that the ether was an internally motionless medium in which celestial bodies moved without friction. This idea led to attempts to measure the speed of the Earth relative to the ether, known as the "ether wind." However, these measurements were inconclusive, as they indicated very weak signals of the ether wind. Einstein's theory of Special Relativity (STR) was born from this, where he posited that the speed of light is constant in all inertial frames of reference. However, this understanding was based on the assumption that only the speed of light needed postulation, disregarding the dynamic nature of the ether.

Propagation of Light in a Dynamic Space Environment

With a dynamic space environment in mind, let's consider the propagation of light. When measuring the speed of light at a point, it is always c due to the movement of bodies connected to the ether. To observe the propagation of light between two bodies, a simple example can be used. Suppose a light signal is sent from body E (emitter) to body A (absorber), with body A moving away from E at a relative speed Vae.

Example of Light Propagation

In this case, the ether is reorganized linearly between the bodies, and both coordinates and velocities are related to body E. At point X between the bodies, the environment moves with a velocity Vxe relative to E. The calculation of Vxe is given by Vxe Vaex / d, where d is the instantaneous distance between A and E. If x d, then Vx de Vaed / d Vae.

The speed of the signal will add up to the speed of the environment. At point X, the speed of the signal will be Cxe cVxe. At the location of body A, the speed of the signal will be Cae cVae. However, if we relate it to body A, the speed of the signal in the environment relative to A is Caa cVaa c, as each body has zero speed relative to itself.

Implications of the Relationship with Hubble Dynamics

Hubble dynamics, observed on large scales, can be characterized by the relationship v Hr. This is analogous to the re-arrangement of the space environment. In the universe, this dynamic environment results in frequency shifts of signals as observed from distant sources. The relationship can be written as:

Fa / Fe c / ra / c / re

This relationship holds true even if c itself changes, but changes everywhere at the same time. This means that c / ra indicates the speed of the signal relative to the environment at the time of absorption, while c / re indicates the speed of the signal relative to the environment at the time of emission.

For a more specific example, if c remains the same:

Fa / Fe 1 / ra / 1 / re re / ra

As A and E move away from each other, ra increases, causing Fa / Fe to decrease, resulting in a redshift.

Conclusion

The understanding of the speed of light and the dynamic space environment in general relativity provides a more complete picture of the universe. The ether, far from being a static medium, is a malleable environment that can explain the variability of light signals, as seen through the lens of Hubble dynamics. This view challenges our traditional understanding and opens new avenues for further exploration in cosmology and physics.